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
Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2025
The new third line can ease the burden Coach Craig Berube has high hopes for newcomer Nicolas Roy as his 3C, and that’s with good reason.
—James Mirtle, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
Sixteen Ramos, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
In these stories, characters are not burdened with a name, a history, a context, or a unique personality.
—Nathaniel Moore
september 10, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for burden
Noun
Over the past five years, the US COVID-19 Scenario Modeling Hub has provided nearly 20 rounds of projections estimating Covid-19 disease burden.
—Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2025
The new third line can ease the burden Coach Craig Berube has high hopes for newcomer Nicolas Roy as his 3C, and that’s with good reason.
—James Mirtle, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
Verb
The World Health Organization estimates that one in seven 10–19-year-olds worldwide experiences a mental disorder, accounting for roughly 15% of the global disease burden among youth.
—Sixteen Ramos, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
In these stories, characters are not burdened with a name, a history, a context, or a unique personality.
—Nathaniel Moore
september 10, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for burden
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burden
Verb
-
Families can load children into front boxes, while those less comfortable with long distances can rely on electric assistance.—
David Nikel,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Ben Rice’s ground-rule double and a walk to Aaron Judge loaded the bases in the first, and Cody Bellinger’s sacrifice fly gave New York an instant 1-0 lead.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Of course young New York voters are troubled by the unaffordability of the city.—
Betsy McCaughey,
Boston Herald,
12 Sep. 2025
-
China is poised to win great swathes of the booming European EV market and that is troubling the automakers.—
Neil Winton,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The key point, however, is that significant supply from the pipeline will weaken the economics of new export facilities and depress the global LNG market.—
Scott Montgomery,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
However, without Chinese demand, this abundant supply threatens to further depress prices and worsen farmers’ financial distress.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Wildfire worries With the worsening drought comes worries over wildfires.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
-
The airline's fall from grace should worry anyone with loyalty to the brand.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
It is concerned solely with the here-and-now, preserving the peace for just one more day, and waiting for the CCP to collapse like the imperial dynasties that ruled China before.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
16 Sep. 2025
-
The final campaign finance report for the 2024 general election and the annual report concerning remaining campaign funds were filed on April 30 of this year, according to records in the Saline County clerk's office.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Now, the Franciscan missionaries oppressing the Native Americans in the painting had arrows piercing their heads and bodies.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Yet we are also invited to see the Trojans, not the native Italians, as the eastern, luxury-loving imperialist invaders who oppress a noble rustic people.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The works of Rower’s grandfather, taken together, have an accidental, artisanal air—more like toys improvised and reassembled than objects weighed down by deliberation.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Another notable benefit is the formula’s lightweight, non-greasy texture, which melts into the skin without feeling heavy or weighed down.—
Melony Forcier,
PEOPLE,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
His heart was racing, his breathing distressed.—
Paul Sisson,
Mercury News,
8 Sep. 2025
-
His heart was racing, his breathing distressed.—
Paul Sisson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Burden.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burden. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share