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
Relevance
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
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 7 Nov. 2025
So seeing how Fox can carry that offensive burden with Wemby [is key].
—Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2025
New Atlas, 30 Oct. 2025
It was met with a tepid response by his colleagues, however, who cited its potential to further burden a struggling commercial sector.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for burden
Noun
While people’s claims history, inflation, higher labor and construction costs play into increases nationwide, Coloradans face the additional burden of living in a state where the risk is high of catastrophes wreaking billions of dollars in damage.
—Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 7 Nov. 2025
So seeing how Fox can carry that offensive burden with Wemby [is key].
—Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
The researchers wanted to understand how moment-to-moment social experiences, especially with friends, might act as a buffer against loneliness, and whether this effect depends on how burdened caregivers feel.
—New Atlas, 30 Oct. 2025
It was met with a tepid response by his colleagues, however, who cited its potential to further burden a struggling commercial sector.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for burden
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burden
Verb
-
Sanford jarred the ball loose as Zollers was loading up to pass, and the ball caromed to A&M’s Dalton Brooks virtually in stride behind Zollers.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
8 Nov. 2025
-
The seller will load the grating for transport, but won't secure the load.—
Jalen Williams,
Freep.com,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
But people all over the country are increasingly troubled by our government’s lack of fairness and due process and want to do something about it.—
Air Mail,
Air Mail,
25 Oct. 2025
-
That last hurdle, safely landing a SpaceX Starship HLS (Human Landing System) spacecraft, carrying two astronauts, upright on the moon, particularly troubles Green.—
Dan Vergano,
Scientific American,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Merchants are seeing this wobbly job market help to depress consumer confidence.—
Jonathan Lansner,
Oc Register,
6 Nov. 2025
-
This sounds like depressing stuff, and Mothertongue is not extremely upbeat.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Punk music and its spirit clearly worried the Soviet rulers.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Nov. 2025
-
For voters worried about health-insurance coverage or the future of research in the United States, scientists, health-care workers, and public-health experts may have particular appeal right now, Shields told me.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The lack of an addition to the running back room hit harder on Monday when Chiefs head coach Andy Reid offered a concise, but concerning, injury update on Pacheco.—
Max Dible,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Nov. 2025
-
The One Big, Beautiful Bill Act updated the farm safety net and other farm insurance programs, but lawmakers still need to revise programs concerning rural development and agricultural research.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
When, in reality, not that all Jews have money, but the reality is, for 3000 years, white people who were male and female, had money and didn't have money, were being brutally oppressed.—
Armando Salguero OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Our systems were built to oppress people of color.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The Huskies haven’t lost in regulation all season but are weighed down by two of those three OT losses, to Delaware and Rice.—
Chris Vannini,
New York Times,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Fenty Hair – The Rich One Moisture Repair Conditioner gives my hair just enough so it’s quenched, but not weighed down.—
Kayla Greaves,
Essence,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Its mid-rise Harlow jeans are composed of a cotton and elastane blend, with a powder-blue hue and strategic hints of distressing down the leg.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
21 Oct. 2025
-
She was particularly distressed by Kennedy’s June decision to fire the entire vaccine advisory board and stack it with his allies, but recent months have offered even more opportunities for stress and indignation.—
Tom Bartlett,
The Atlantic,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Burden.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burden. Accessed 19 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share