ENCUMBRANCES Synonyms: 78 Similar and Opposite Words

encumbrances

noun

plural of encumbrance

as in obstacles

something that makes movement or progress difficult without the encumbrance of a heavy backpack, I could sprint along the trail

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 encumbrances To Tommy, Anna and Molly are twittering encumbrances, idiotic in their insistence on good works and the good of man, their endless remorseful hedgings about the Communist Party. — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026 Stopping the train to nowhere funding, using those funds to pay off our federal EDD debt so that businesses can reduce THEIR EDD encumbrances by the 1-5% they’re being charged now. — Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 4 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for encumbrances

Noun

Bond yields Persistent inflation, tariffs and whipsawing gas prices are not the only obstacles complicating the task for the Fed.

— Brian Cheung, NBC news, 28 Aug. 2026
Harley has some internal and external obstacles to make that happen.

— Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of obstacles

Noun

Even if a large storm has disrupted power lines or internet access, a high-quality walkie-talkie should transmit your communications, as long as there are no severe obstructions or blockage.

— BestReviews, Mercury News, 26 Aug. 2026
The bar also removed landscaping rocks and other potential obstructions to help water drain away from the property.

— Jasmine Arenas, CBS News, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of obstructions

Noun

Sitting around a table in the soundstage where the pilot for I Love Lucy was filmed, the six of them tailored the roles to the actors and infused the script with arguments, embarrassments, and confessions from their own relationships.

— Eliana Dockterman, Time, 26 June 2026
The order to whitewash America’s historic sites of anything less than rosy about the nation’s past has led to some predictable embarrassments.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 June 2026

Definition of embarrassments

Noun

Structural inflation, fueled by government deficits, AI investments, low unemployment rates, growing trade barriers and energy disruptions, is reshaping the landscape for markets, according to Fidelity International.

— Justina Lee, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026
The legislation was included on the 2025 list of global trade barriers compiled annually by the Office of the US Trade Representative.

— Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of barriers

Browse Nearby Words

encumbrance

encumbrances

encyclical

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Encumbrances.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encumbrances. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of encumbrances

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

conscientious

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes