encumbers

verb

present tense third-person singular of encumber
1
as in impedes
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in loads
to place a weight or burden on don't encumber your pack animal so much that it can hardly move

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 encumbers Neither encumbers this production. — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encumbers
  1. impedes
  2. loads
  3. hinders
  4. burdens
  5. hampers
  6. fills
  7. obstructs
  8. embarrasses
Verb
  • The farmers said the smoke impedes their hay operation, as the haze blocks the sunlight necessary to dry the hay out.
    — The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Sun, 17 July 2026
  • The majority opinion, written by Justice Brett Kavanaugh, largely adopted the First Amendment argument that the limit impedes political parties’ ability to advocate for their candidates.
    — John J. Martin, The Conversation, 30 June 2026
Definition of impedes
Verb
  • Turnover and the shelter’s euthanasia rates were trending down; officers’ shifts were shorter and case loads smaller.
    — Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Aug. 2026
  • That change has pushed the best operators to bring more of the logistics function in-house by making decisions such as which routes run, which carriers get which loads, and how exceptions get handled before a customer notices something went wrong.
    — Nishith Rastogi, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of loads
Verb
  • Ultimately, glorifying sleep deprivation is counterproductive; prioritizing sleep is key for career longevity and productivity, while chronic insomnia leads to impaired judgment and hinders professional growth.
    — Mena Mirhom, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Neptune retrograde hinders our intuition, leaving us lost in the fog.
    — Lisa Stardust, Vogue, 15 July 2026
Definition of hinders
Verb
  • The legal scholars watching this expect the eventual fights to turn on old questions, whether a state law unduly burdens interstate commerce, whether federal rules quietly override it.
    — Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 20 June 2026
  • The renter’s credit is part of a larger but stalled push to rebalance Connecticut’s upside-down tax system, one the state’s own analysts conclude excessively burdens the poor and middle class.
    — Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 15 June 2026
Definition of burdens
Verb
  • Cybersecurity experts increasingly warn that restricting access to advanced AI models hampers defenders’ ability to identify vulnerabilities, test systems, and develop countermeasures.
    — James Marks, Fortune, 23 July 2026
  • Neighbors of the state park who have become accustomed to spontaneous visits found that the new system hampers their ability to make a last-minute trip.
    — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 July 2026
Definition of hampers
Verb
  • Floor-to-ceiling glass walls open to an expansive outdoor terrace where live jazz fills the air on Wednesdays and DJs keep the energy going on Friday and Saturday nights.
    — Martie Bowser, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • There’s a chance that Ben Kindel, who scored 35 points in his rookie campaign in addition to very impressive two-way metrics, breaks out and fills the role well, but that’s a lot to ask out of a 19-year-old sophomore.
    — Harman Dayal, New York Times, 28 July 2026
Definition of fills
Verb
  • Don't tail large vehicles closely - Trucks or buses can kick up a water spray that obstructs visibility.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 13 July 2026
  • Anatasia steals a truck and obstructs their path, sacrificing herself to a bleak future, all in the name of love.
    — Hunter Ingram, Variety, 10 July 2026
Definition of obstructs
Verb
  • Graft inquiry embarrasses Zelensky Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office said in a Telegram announcement that the investigation into Yermak is ongoing.
    — Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
  • Now the technology embarrasses an umpire even more than a player could, and what’s the recourse?
    — Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 4 Apr. 2026
Definition of embarrasses

Browse Nearby Words

encumbering
encumbers
encumbrance
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Cite this Entry

“Encumbers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encumbers. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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