1
as in load
a mass or quantity of something taken up and carried, conveyed, or transported
the early settlers often used horses to carry their burdens
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in responsibility
something one must do because of prior agreement
the burden of homework prevented the youngster from joining his friends at the game
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to load
to place a weight or burden on
burdened the dog with a little backpack
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to trouble
to make sad
refuses to let everyday problems burden her
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 burden
Frank Vaisvilas, jsonline.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Even after death, Hosoda suggests, all people truly hope for is a shoulder to cry on and someone to share their burdens with.
—Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 9 Feb. 2026
Purchasing and approvals have reportedly been streamlined so agreements do not meaningfully burden either board with robust, independent review.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for burden
Noun
Quinn said a number that is hard to quantify is the tribe’s easing of burdens on local governments in terms of services provided to residents, such as healthcare, education, police and fire protection.
—Frank Vaisvilas, jsonline.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Even after death, Hosoda suggests, all people truly hope for is a shoulder to cry on and someone to share their burdens with.
—Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
Verb
Supporters say securing transportation, getting time off and having to repeat visits unnecessarily burdens low-income women.
—Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 9 Feb. 2026
Purchasing and approvals have reportedly been streamlined so agreements do not meaningfully burden either board with robust, independent review.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for burden
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burden
Verb
-
Before long, it was loaded up with 100 whistles and placed on the front counter.—
Steve Lopez,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
-
And the two front-runners are loading up.—
Adam Beam,
AJC.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In addition to that, Americans across the political spectrum should be troubled by the president’s ongoing fixation with the 2020 presidential election.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
7 Feb. 2026
-
This persistence troubled certain foreign powers that, at various moments, had supported the Islamic Republic in the hope of weakening Iran as a nation.—
Shahrnush Parsipur,
Time,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Chung Hyeon, the 2018 Australian Open semifinalist who saw Achilles and back injuries derail his career, and Kwon Soon-woo, whose ranking has been depressed by military service that prohibits his playing outside South Korea, stunning Argentina.—
James Hansen,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Instead what followed was the slow disintegration of a championship core, an inability to reclimb the mountain and the slow, depressing slide into lamenting what could have been.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Pentagon worries that an expanding Chinese arsenal could be a prelude to invading Taiwan or an attempt to beat America's missile defenses, Panda said.—
Geoff Brumfiel,
NPR,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Other recent departures underscore the tension between some researchers worried about safety and top executives eager to generate revenue.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But some consumers and lawmakers are concerned the technology allows stores to suddenly hike prices on certain items during high-demand windows.—
Francesca Pica,
jsonline.com,
10 Feb. 2026
-
When Reeves’ political future was in doubt last summer, gilt yields spiked as much as 22 basis points in a single day, with market watchers saying at the time that investors were concerned her departure would lead to the government spending and borrowing more.—
Chloe Taylor,
CNBC,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
With many people around the world fighting for their freedom, Dallas’ historical cemetery stands as an example of how a group of people who were historically oppressed and enslaved could become free and prosperous.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
31 Jan. 2026
-
The resultant impunity means people turn to alternative structures for protection, from vigilantes to the very criminals that oppress them.—
Obi Anyadike,
semafor.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
As hotel values in 2025 rose in Southern California, a slump in Northern California showed a decline that suggests the market remains weighed down by a host of economic maladies, a new report shows.—
George Avalos,
Mercury News,
10 Feb. 2026
-
After hitting a high in 2021, biotech stocks have struggled, weighed down by economic policies, regulatory uncertainty, and traders’ waning interest in the high costs and low success rate of drug development.—
Allison DeAngelis,
STAT,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Voters are also distressed by the decline in their quality of life, as well as the country’s muddled political landscape – a fact indicated by the twenty candidates for president alone.—
Djenane Villanueva,
CNN Money,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Ecru denim also made an appearance, baggy and distressed for a grittier winter look.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Burden.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burden. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
