burden 1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈbər-dᵊn How to pronounce burden (audio)
Definition of burdennext
1
as in load
a mass or quantity of something taken up and carried, conveyed, or transported the early settlers often used horses to carry their burdens

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in responsibility
something one must do because of prior agreement the burden of homework prevented the youngster from joining his friends at the game

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

burden

2 of 3

noun (2)

as in chorus
a part of a song or hymn that is repeated every so often had some trouble coming up with a burden for the song

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burden

3 of 3

verb

1
as in to load
to place a weight or burden on burdened the dog with a little backpack

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to trouble
to make sad refuses to let everyday problems burden her

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of burden
Noun
Patients often wait months to see specialists while clinicians struggle under extraordinary administrative burdens. — Sachin H. Jain, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026 Recovery cooling is when the heavy burden of competing in the heat often becomes most obvious. — Alan McCall, New York Times, 11 July 2026
Verb
Michigan Democrat Abdul El-Sayed has a plan to burden state and local fiscs as well. — Editorial Board, Washington Post, 9 July 2026 Yet another review of EAR audio found that people who sighed frequently were not necessarily burdened by negative emotions. — Shayla Love, New Yorker, 8 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for burden
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burden
  1. load
  2. responsibility
  3. chorus
  4. trouble
  5. loading
  6. obligation
  7. depress
  8. payload
Noun
  • MetroLoft added roughly 18,000 square feet to 15 upper floors, and the additional load caused two columns to bend, Berman said.
    — Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 9 July 2026
  • At a press conference at the site, Buildings Commissioner Ahmed Tigani said that the city was bringing in emergency beams and columns to help shore up some of the unstable building’s load.
    — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 8 July 2026
Definition of load
Noun
  • Tech companies like Meta and YouTube are shielded from legal responsibility for content posted by third parties, based on Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act.
    — Kaitlyn Huamani, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026
  • However, the responsibilities of leading a large constitutional office required me to balance my schedule, including senior leadership meetings held on Tuesday mornings that often conflicted with BCC meetings.
    — Scott Maxwell, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 July 2026
Definition of responsibility
Noun
  • In a song, a chorus returns largely unchanged, accumulating emotional force through augmentation.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 July 2026
  • The brooding, ambient track opens with a chorus of ghostly layered voices as O’Brien’s guitar breaks through a cloud ambient swirls and flourishes.
    — Jaeden Pinder, Rolling Stone, 9 July 2026
Definition of chorus
Verb
  • We are likewise troubled by reductions affecting healthcare, food assistance, education, veterans’ services, humanitarian aid, and other essential supports relied upon by vulnerable individuals and families.
    — Killingly-Brooklyn Interfaith Council, Hartford Courant, 9 July 2026
  • Evangelista’s son, who was unaware of the sale until after its completion, remains troubled by the transaction.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 7 July 2026
Definition of trouble
Noun
  • Fuel rods for the Aalo-X Critical Test Reactor were manufactured by GE Vernova’s Global Nuclear Fuel business and delivered to the Idaho site in April before the reactor received approval for fuel loading and startup.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 6 July 2026
  • Its all-new VL45 Plus combines the advantages of top-loading and door fridges with a triple-access system that all but eliminates the need for a separate slide costing hundreds of dollars.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 July 2026
Definition of loading
Noun
  • Then, in 2012, redevelopment agencies were dissolved by the state and their obligations transferred to successor agencies.
    — Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 July 2026
  • Without a coordinated strategy, the cumulative risk can become significant even if each individual's obligation seems manageable.
    — Blake Harris, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
Definition of obligation
Verb
  • The Swiss victory over Colombia in Tuesday’s knockout match seemed to depress the market further.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 8 July 2026
  • The high-pressure system that’s causing temperature spikes, Ciliberti said, is also depressing much of the particulate matter, pushing it closer to the ground.
    — Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Definition of depress
Noun
  • Like, the idea that like people in the cab actually affect payload, like there’s going to be a lot of old boys that don’t really heed that.
    — Joel Feder, The Drive, 9 July 2026
  • The model’s maximum payload is 18,600 kilograms and is designed for cargo operations north of 2,400 nautical miles (2,760 miles).
    — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 9 July 2026
Definition of payload

Browse Nearby Words

burbling
burden
burdened
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Cite this Entry

“Burden.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burden. Accessed 14 Jul. 2026.

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