1
as in unloading
to empty or rid of cargo
the crew was frantically unburdening the ship in an attempt to save it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in relieving
to set (a person or thing) free of something that encumbers
a generous friend unburdened her of that particular financial worry
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 unburdening
Maybe that’s why companies like RadAI, which focus on unburdening the physician’s workflow rather than subbing in for their expertise, have been so successful.
—
Alexis Kayser, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2025
Working through his doubts with the help of others allowed Meinerz to reach an unburdening conclusion, one that helped turn him into a first-team All-Pro for the first time in 2024.
—Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
Alexis Kayser, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2025
Working through his doubts with the help of others allowed Meinerz to reach an unburdening conclusion, one that helped turn him into a first-team All-Pro for the first time in 2024.
—Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unburdening
Verb
-
Even listening to a favorite song and dancing around the kitchen while unloading the dishwasher can become a beloved family ritual—just think about what brings your family joy, and go from there.—
Erica Jackson Curran,
Parents,
11 Jan. 2026
-
State officials said the flatbed was owned by J and A Towing, a business in Belding, Michigan, and that Greenville Steel was not involved in unloading the forklift.—
Nick Lentz,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Browns let go of Kevin Stefanski The Cleveland Browns kicked off the infamous day in the NFL calendar by relieving Kevin Stefanski of head coaching duties after six seasons in charge of the team, the franchise announced in a statement.—
Kevin Dotson,
CNN Money,
5 Jan. 2026
-
Colorado doesn’t have any way of quantifying whether areas need more hospital beds, and health systems generally described their recent projects as bringing specific types of care closer to communities, rather than relieving a crunch on their existing facilities.—
Meg Wingerter,
Denver Post,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
This filtration system ensures that your floors are getting their most thorough clean, while also ridding your space of irritants like dust that can cause allergy flare-ups.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
23 Dec. 2025
-
The committee is calling on several MCCA leaders to testify at the hearing, including CEO Marcel Vernon, who welcomed the hearing and told the Herald in a statement that obstacles still remain in the way of ridding the Convention Center of bias and exclusion.—
Tim Dunn,
Boston Herald,
4 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The Broadway production will also include a partnership with the Innocence Project, the organization dedicated to freeing the wrongfully convicted and reforming the criminal justice system (and the same group that helped secure Yarris’ exoneration).—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
13 Jan. 2026
-
These nifty carry-on attachments slide onto the handle of your luggage, freeing up your hands.—
Jillian Dara,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unburdening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unburdening. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
