as in obstacle
something that makes movement or progress difficult
without the encumbrance of a heavy backpack, I could sprint along the trail
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of encumbrance
The City of Boca Raton lost because the lease itself became the encumbrance.
—
Stacy Sipple, Sun Sentinel, 14 Feb. 2026
Still, Sabbath sounded amazing, the band’s distinctive vibe of limitless cosmic encumbrance, of Man squirming under the thumb of Fate, God, madness—the essential heavy-metal vision—somehow magnified by the venerable wobbliness of its playing.
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2025
But corporate apathy wasn’t the project’s only encumbrance.
—Joan Gaylord, Christian Science Monitor, 7 Aug. 2025
Since the Upper Sioux Agency land no longer provides those opportunities, the encumbrance must be placed on other public land of equal or greater market value.
—Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 6 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for encumbrance
Stacy Sipple, Sun Sentinel, 14 Feb. 2026
Still, Sabbath sounded amazing, the band’s distinctive vibe of limitless cosmic encumbrance, of Man squirming under the thumb of Fate, God, madness—the essential heavy-metal vision—somehow magnified by the venerable wobbliness of its playing.
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2025
But corporate apathy wasn’t the project’s only encumbrance.
—Joan Gaylord, Christian Science Monitor, 7 Aug. 2025
Since the Upper Sioux Agency land no longer provides those opportunities, the encumbrance must be placed on other public land of equal or greater market value.
—Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 6 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for encumbrance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encumbrance
Noun
-
But as the necessities of their jobs begin to push them farther apart, truckdriving becomes a serious obstacle to their budding relationship.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
16 May 2026
-
The incidents involving contact with chains, trailer hitches, poles, and curbs indicate recurring limitations in detecting smaller or irregular obstacles, especially during reversing maneuvers.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
The former junkyard is seen as ripe for future redevelopment, but an environmental clean-up is clearly a costly hurdle to be cleared.—
Kenneth R. Gosselin,
Hartford Courant,
17 May 2026
-
Regular New Yorkers don’t care about the reasons for the bureaucratic hurdles.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
Smith was indicted for principal to manslaughter, principal to felony hazing and obstruction of justice.—
Erin Clack,
PEOPLE,
17 May 2026
-
In December, Hill pleaded guilty to state charges of misconduct, perjury and obstruction of justice and was put on probation.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
In light of her public embarrassment, her author father, Greg, accepts a position as a visiting lecturer on campus to be close to his daughter in her time of need.—
Leigh Nordstrom,
Footwear News,
12 May 2026
-
Wilson’s an embarrassment to our police department.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Encumbrance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encumbrance. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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