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

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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 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
  1. obstacles
  2. hurdles
  3. obstructions
  4. embarrassments
  5. barriers
Noun
  • However, engineers have historically run into two main obstacles.
    — David Szondy July 16, New Atlas, 17 July 2026
  • Conversely, if only the ground robots had been employed, the defenders could have remained under cover until the robots exhausted their ammunition or blocked their advance with physical obstacles.
    — Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of obstacles
Noun
  • But there are still hurdles to clear before the proposal can become a reality.
    — Rachel Treisman, NPR, 16 July 2026
  • And down payments have become some of the biggest hurdles to buying.
    — Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026
Definition of hurdles
Noun
  • Also, check to ensure the work material is free of any obstructions from underneath.
    — Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 July 2026
  • Make sure both your indoor and outdoor vents are cleared of obstructions such as furniture or debris to make your AC work as efficiently as possible.
    — Molly Burford, Southern Living, 14 July 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
  • Remove them when possible, or use barriers, playpens or elevated stands to keep pets away.
    — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 July 2026
  • Remove hazardous plants when possible, or use barriers, playpens, leashes or elevated plant stands to keep pets away.
    — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 14 July 2026
Definition of barriers

Browse Nearby Words

encumbrance
encumbrances
encyclical
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Cite this Entry

“Encumbrances.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encumbrances. Accessed 21 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on encumbrances

Nglish: Translation of encumbrances for Spanish Speakers

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