as in loading
to place a weight or burden on
to the social worker it seemed as though her supervisor had once again saddled her with a truly hopeless case
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Recent Examples of saddling
Court records from Taste of Belgium’s bankruptcy reveal its sales slumped by nearly a fifth in the last two years, saddling the popular eatery with more than $6 million in debts.
—
Alexander Coolidge, Cincinnati Enquirer, 22 Jan. 2026
In Colorado, Connecticut, and Maine, for example, new laws aim to increase transparency and prevent utilities from saddling customers with questionable costs—such as trade-association membership dues, donations to interest groups, advertising, and legal fees from rate cases.
—Nick Bowlin, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
In an industry generally notorious for denying claims while saddling patients with medical debt, United had a reputation for denying more than most.
—Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 15 Nov. 2025
That risk is driving up the cost of home insurance in the middle of the country, saddling average Americans with huge bills.
—Rebecca Hersher, NPR, 13 Nov. 2025
Once again, Derek Hough was a little bit of a buzzkill, saddling Richter with another 6.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2025
The core cast are forgettable, but the game pulls tricks from older-era Call of Duty titles like Modern Warfare and Black Ops by saddling players with alternating POVs of the events just long enough to learn someone’s name before you’re forced to live out their demise.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 9 Oct. 2025
Two new Mercedes EVs coming to USA After initially saddling its EVs with confusing names like EQE sedan and EQE SUV, Mercedes is moving its electric vehicles to familiar model names.
—Mark Phelan, Freep.com, 7 Oct. 2025
Some hospitals owned by private-equity firms sell the land under their buildings, enriching the owners but saddling the facilities with higher rent costs.
—Gretchen Morgenson, NBC news, 24 Sep. 2025
Alexander Coolidge, Cincinnati Enquirer, 22 Jan. 2026
In Colorado, Connecticut, and Maine, for example, new laws aim to increase transparency and prevent utilities from saddling customers with questionable costs—such as trade-association membership dues, donations to interest groups, advertising, and legal fees from rate cases.
—Nick Bowlin, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
In an industry generally notorious for denying claims while saddling patients with medical debt, United had a reputation for denying more than most.
—Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 15 Nov. 2025
That risk is driving up the cost of home insurance in the middle of the country, saddling average Americans with huge bills.
—Rebecca Hersher, NPR, 13 Nov. 2025
Once again, Derek Hough was a little bit of a buzzkill, saddling Richter with another 6.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2025
The core cast are forgettable, but the game pulls tricks from older-era Call of Duty titles like Modern Warfare and Black Ops by saddling players with alternating POVs of the events just long enough to learn someone’s name before you’re forced to live out their demise.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 9 Oct. 2025
Two new Mercedes EVs coming to USA After initially saddling its EVs with confusing names like EQE sedan and EQE SUV, Mercedes is moving its electric vehicles to familiar model names.
—Mark Phelan, Freep.com, 7 Oct. 2025
Some hospitals owned by private-equity firms sell the land under their buildings, enriching the owners but saddling the facilities with higher rent costs.
—Gretchen Morgenson, NBC news, 24 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for saddling
Verb
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Across TikTok, eBay, and online forums, young adults are snapping up used iPod Classics and Nanos, loading them with music, and in some cases canceling their streaming subscriptions entirely.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
23 Feb. 2026
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This key test involves loading the rocket with fuel, preparing the capsule that will house the Artemis II crew for the duration of the mission for launch, and simulating a launch countdown.—
Claire Cameron,
Scientific American,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Because there is a balance to be struck between preventing fraud, such as voter impersonation (as uncommon as that may be), and burdening eligible voters with undue restrictions that can ultimately discourage them from voting.—
Peter Jensen,
Baltimore Sun,
16 Feb. 2026
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Reducing—or eliminating—the ad valorem tax is a priority, and tax abatements will be used responsibly to support businesses without burdening homeowners.—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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This styler has a pencil for spot-filling sparse brows and a soft spoolie for blending in product afterward.—
Alanna Martine Kilkeary,
Glamour,
20 Feb. 2026
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Fresh produce, ricotta, lemon, mint, and pasta shells create a perfectly balanced creamy and crunchy spring dinner that is filling without leaving you feeling stuffed.—
Cameron Beall,
Southern Living,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Saddling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/saddling. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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