burden 1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈbər-dᵊn How to pronounce burden (audio)
Definition of burdennext
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

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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

burden

2 of 3

noun (2)

as in chorus
a part of a song or hymn that is repeated every so often had some trouble coming up with a burden for the song

Synonyms & Similar Words

burden

3 of 3

verb

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

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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 burden
Noun
Many families shoulder the burden by chipping in to pay for home care, which costs about $38 an hour, according to AARP. — Jill Schlesinger, Mercury News, 10 Aug. 2026 Additional private investment is being courted to offset that burden on Cypriot consumers while additional EU funding is being weighed, said Damianos. — ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026
Verb
Despite being the wealthiest generation, boomers are still burdened by significant debt. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 8 Aug. 2026 And, as high property taxes continue to burden Wyandotte County, people will want to see whether the state can pass any significant legislation outlining relief for low-income residents. — Sofi Zeman, Kansas City Star, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for burden
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burden
  1. load
  2. responsibility
  3. chorus
  4. trouble
  5. loading
  6. obligation
  7. depress
  8. payload
Noun
  • Like a spacecraft control panel, design should reduce cognitive load while keeping critical actions visible and understandable.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • As a result, Zinn couldn’t bear doubling their stress load, both by his being in harm’s way and their taking a financial hit by losing his dependable shipyard check.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of load
Noun
  • Payton has talked routinely in camp about Coleman being further along than other first-year backs in his ability to grasp pass-protection responsibilities.
    — Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Wilson Tamfuh, a public and international law professor at the University of Dschang in West Cameroon, said the country has institutions that can keep the government running when the president delegates responsibilities.
    — Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of responsibility
Noun
  • In group sessions, where Cody typically doesn’t say much, the others speak for what Cody might be going through, Greek chorus-style.
    — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Their chorus of howls and yowls was all that kept them connected to the hunters who lagged far behind.
    — Paul Schullery, Outdoor Life, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of chorus
Verb
  • But what troubles him most is not only what has disappeared from textbooks.
    — Fatima Faizi, NPR, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Carpineti and Prescod-Weinstein and their interlocutors repeatedly trouble the notion that the universe can be reduced to binaries.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of trouble
Noun
  • Ground handling and tarmac loading have fully resumed, though flight schedules will require another 24-to-48 hours to clear passenger and freighter backlogs.
    — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • In a report Monday, Windward said Kharg’s western terminal had seen no loadings for 22 consecutive days, the liquid petroleum gas terminal for 13 days and the eastern terminal for 10 days.
    — Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of loading
Noun
  • When serious concerns involving district operations and oversight are raised, the Board has an obligation to investigate them thoroughly, carefully consider the findings and act in the best long-term interest of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.
    — Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The Times reported that the original deals for the top creatives included zero obligations for a sequel.
    — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of obligation
Verb
  • The knob twists and depresses like a button (with programmable options for both a short and long press).
    — Brian Westover, PC Magazine, 3 Aug. 2026
  • But that’s forcing them to wrestle with the idea that any action taken by a party is illegitimate, anti-democratic rigging — something the other team can use to depress the base.
    — David Weigel, semafor.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of depress
Noun
  • It will be used to integrate Department of Defense payloads for not just Blue Origin, but other launch providers with national security missions.
    — Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Carry large payloads efficiently, often placing two telecommunications satellites on one launch.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of payload

Browse Nearby Words

burbling
burden
burdened
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Cite this Entry

“Burden.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burden. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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