as in hindered
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1
as in hampered
to create difficulty for the work or activity of
the claim that all of these regulations encumber doctors, taking time away from the actual practice of medicine
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in loaded
to place a weight or burden on
don't encumber your pack animal so much that it can hardly move
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of encumbered
Dade Hayes, Deadline, 17 Apr. 2026
His brand of athleticism is predicated on a bouncy explosiveness that shouldn’t be encumbered with unnecessary bulking.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
It will be encumbered neither by norms nor the exigencies that compel speech in a democratic society.
—Casey Ryan Kelly, The Conversation, 9 Mar. 2026
The department is required to be paid fair market value for any land that is purchased, rented or encumbered, according to a September 2025 appraisal of the property.
—Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
Most of the properties, which are owned by LLCs, are delinquent on tax obligations while some are encumbered by mortgages that are in default —racking up penalties and interest, Seward added.
—Patrick Danner, San Antonio Express-News, 10 Feb. 2026
As with other good car designs that endured well beyond their 1960s-era prime, the Type 14 eventually became encumbered by massive rubber bumpers and oversized taillamps by 1973, though even these later models retain their charm.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 26 Sep. 2025
Some 60% of the world’s GDP is encumbered by debt to GDP of 100% or more, and untypically large deficits in the context of a business cycle expansion phase.
—Mike O'Sullivan, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
The block is encumbered with three ground leases.
—Matthew Geiger, Denver Post, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
Many analysts noting the stock’s run-up due to news in March of price increases and a general sense of relief that the company wouldn’t be encumbered by a massive acquisition of traditional assets.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 17 Apr. 2026
His brand of athleticism is predicated on a bouncy explosiveness that shouldn’t be encumbered with unnecessary bulking.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
It will be encumbered neither by norms nor the exigencies that compel speech in a democratic society.
—Casey Ryan Kelly, The Conversation, 9 Mar. 2026
The department is required to be paid fair market value for any land that is purchased, rented or encumbered, according to a September 2025 appraisal of the property.
—Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
Most of the properties, which are owned by LLCs, are delinquent on tax obligations while some are encumbered by mortgages that are in default —racking up penalties and interest, Seward added.
—Patrick Danner, San Antonio Express-News, 10 Feb. 2026
As with other good car designs that endured well beyond their 1960s-era prime, the Type 14 eventually became encumbered by massive rubber bumpers and oversized taillamps by 1973, though even these later models retain their charm.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 26 Sep. 2025
Some 60% of the world’s GDP is encumbered by debt to GDP of 100% or more, and untypically large deficits in the context of a business cycle expansion phase.
—Mike O'Sullivan, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
The block is encumbered with three ground leases.
—Matthew Geiger, Denver Post, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encumbered
Verb
-
But most summit speakers treated circularity—a nebulous concept at the best of times—largely as an engineering challenge, one hampered by immature infrastructure, policy gaps and weak economics.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Footwear News,
15 May 2026
-
The company is seeking to create a Duchenne gene therapy that is more effective and safer than Sarepta Therapeutics’ Elevidys, which has been hampered by safety concerns, particularly following the deaths of two recipients from liver failure.—
Jason Mast,
STAT,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Stoneman Douglas, which left the bases loaded in the first and fourth innings, finally pushed an insurance run home in the top of the seventh.—
Gary Curreri,
Sun Sentinel,
17 May 2026
-
Those runs proved useful when Benge dropped a fly ball in the top of the seventh, allowing a run to score for the Yankees, who loaded the bases with no outs, forcing the Mets to go to the bullpen.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
17 May 2026
Adjective
-
Catalina suffers from an unspecified mental disability, which Saavedra, who is not handicapped, performs in an arguably inappropriate register of fidgety hands and shifty-eyed glances.—
Beatrice Loayza,
Variety,
16 May 2026
-
Still, there are a few handicapped-accessible rooms, and all of the restaurants and public areas have ramps.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
Goalkeeper Bernd Leno was the victim both times, impeded by Kevin Schade and then Igor Thiago.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
14 May 2026
-
In the Jazz Age, the culture and the style that Bradley was soaking up every night were information that white performers craved, but which racial segregation impeded them from accessing.—
Brian Seibert,
New Yorker,
13 May 2026
Verb
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Internationally, however, the film’s distribution prospects rest largely on Cotillard, also burdened with the heaviest dramatic lifting to do as the stricken, unworldly protagonist who bridges the film’s two improbably connected realms.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
18 May 2026
-
Students are burdened with debt.—
Cory Turner,
NPR,
14 May 2026
Verb
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The chaos that ensued has seen a clash of play styles, with some players trying to transcend their normal strategies and others falling victim to the same mistakes that have hindered their past quests for victory.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
15 May 2026
-
White had hoped to have a college athlete career playing basketball and lacrosse but was hindered by injuries and several surgeries on her knees.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Every scene is shot on location, the soundtrack is wall-to-wall bangers, and the cast is perfect with a few key roles filled by actors in their bygone prime and maybe one or two from beyond the grave.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2026
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Among Miamians, the hotel is best known for its extravagant Sunday Brunch; all tables become immediately filled with a combination of local residents and hotel guests, a natural overlap felt throughout the property, which is also home to the Four Seasons Residences.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
The Sixers were embarrassed by the Knicks 144-114 in Game 4 in front of a New York-heavy crowd in South Philadelphia.—
Tom Dougherty,
CBS News,
12 May 2026
-
That this series has flipped on its head seemed almost impossible last Sunday, when the Celtics embarrassed Philadelphia in a Game 4 win on the Sixers’ home floor.—
Tobias Bass,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Encumbered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encumbered. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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