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
Check your title regularly: Periodically verify that no liens or encumbrances have been placed against your property.
—
Ronny Maye, Essence, 21 Aug. 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
What the land bank offers to buyers is a clean title free of liens and other encumbrances, according to Jessica Caffrey, executive director.
—Mike Nolan, Chicago Tribune, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for encumbrance
Ronny Maye, Essence, 21 Aug. 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
What the land bank offers to buyers is a clean title free of liens and other encumbrances, according to Jessica Caffrey, executive director.
—Mike Nolan, Chicago Tribune, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for encumbrance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encumbrance
Noun
-
Analysts say Kim's vilification of South Korea reflects his view that Seoul, which helped set up his first meetings with Trump, is no longer a useful intermediary with Washington but an obstacle to his effort to establish a more assertive regional footing.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Feb. 2026
-
This season has one of the greatest obstacles between the leads.—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
An additional hurdle is that Mojtaba is not a high-ranking cleric and has no official role in the regime.—
Abbas Al Lawati,
CNN Money,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Building a functional intercontinental ballistic missile capable of striking the US would require overcoming substantial technical hurdles, such as producing a nuclear warhead and successfully miniaturizing it, Eliana Johns, a Federation of American Scientists senior research associate, said.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
28 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Federal obstruction of unannounced congressional inspections combined with resistance to mandatory California health inspections reveals something deeper than bureaucratic friction.—
Dave Myers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Amnesty International Brazil said the case revealed police corruption, obstruction of justice and the operation of organized crime within the state apparatus.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
This is not unusual for our soon-to-be-deceased hero, who regularly risks injury and embarrassment to help people.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Being in my mid-20s, there was a certain feeling of embarrassment that came with sharing my OSA diagnosis with others.—
Edgar Castro Tello,
Health,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Encumbrance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encumbrance. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
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