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
And if removing the infection requires specialized firmware work, the burden lands on the person who bought the device. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026 Russia does not have to switch off Ukraine’s power to impose an extraordinary burden. — Tatiana Mitrova, Foreign Affairs, 23 Oct. 2026
Verb
Kiwi Light enough not to burden digestion, kiwi contains natural serotonin precursors and some research links it to faster sleep onset. — Patsy Anthony, Vogue, 19 Oct. 2026 Younger women will shoulder more of the detection burden themselves. — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 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
  • The distance is worth it for travelers who want a budget-friendly hotel that still has loads of style, as prices tend to be significantly lower than downtown hotels.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Oct. 2026
  • If the rate change takes effect in 2027, Barbosa said the center will have to cut its patient load in half, particularly affecting older patients who rely on care close to home.
    — Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of load
Noun
  • Such a division of responsibilities could allow Arleigh Burke-class destroyers to concentrate on demanding tasks such as area air defence, missile defence and long-range strike operations.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Those of us in public office and those with media platforms have a responsibility to challenge this prejudice, not legitimize it.
    — Raja Krishnamoorthi, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of responsibility
Noun
  • The deep sub-bass line introduced in the first chorus is too low for the buds to reproduce with much volume.
    — Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Tones jumps in with the chorus in view, and everything comes together like clockwork.
    — Lars Brandle, Billboard, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of chorus
Verb
  • All of them are troubled by increasing animosity from their many political adversaries, especially because the series’ big bad, an immortal named Koschei the Deathless, seems to be stirring in mysterious ways.
    — Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 28 Oct. 2026
  • May singled out a handful of those wells that especially troubled her team, and oil division deputy director Mike McGinnis suggested that Citation permanently plug them.
    — Nick Bowlin, ProPublica, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of trouble
Noun
  • The objective was to verify safety aspects, logistical parameters related to handling and loading, as well as the system’s ability to manage pressure and blast effects during launch.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Retail job postings have gone up 61%, Indeed said, but other roles are also available with loading and stocking jobs up 9%, sales roles increasing 8% and customer service positions rising 6%, as shoppers continue to purchase items online.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of loading
Noun
  • Such a decision can affect production scheduling, inventory needs, employee activities and customers’ obligations.
    — Ramachander Rao Thallada, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Anthropic's off-balance-sheet obligations are similarly large.
    — Ashley Capoot,Jordan Novet,Annie Palmer,Lora Kolodny,Kai Nicol-Schwarz,Caleigh Keating, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of obligation
Verb
  • Conventional wisdom suggests such discouraging numbers would depress turnout.
    — Christopher Miller, The Conversation, 15 Oct. 2026
  • That's also depressing consumer sentiment and squeezing people coping with higher prices, according to economists.
    — Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of depress
Noun
  • That claimed range could make the Bobber useful for those just wanting to ride to the convenience store every now and then, although, as with any EV, real-world distance will depend on factors such as riding style, terrain, temperature, and payload.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The payload fairing that protected the satellite during launch will morph into a radiator, which will dump into space the prodigious heat generated by Big Iron's GPUs (general processing units).
    — Mike Wall, Space.com, 27 Oct. 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 30 Oct. 2026.

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