1
as in loads
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 responsibilities
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 weights
to place a weight or burden on
burdened the dog with a little backpack
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in troubles
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 burdens
Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Moreover, some argue that the regulatory burdens of quarterly reporting have contributed significantly to the sharp decline in the number of public companies in the United States.
—Matt Egan, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2025
But more voters now say utility bills (+2) and healthcare costs (+7) are major burdens, and strong majorities still view all of these expenses as at least a minor problem.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
The Sphinx Organization now runs a variety of programs including mentoring and training, audition support and funding opportunities to off-set the financial burdens and systemic obstacles that could prevent Latino and Black musicians from pursuing careers as professional classical musicians.
—Liz Rothaus Bertrand, Charlotte Observer, 11 Sep. 2025
Her pain is rooted less in the burdens of motherhood and more in the void that emerges in her grief.
—Emma Alpern, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2025
The impact will likely be uneven, with benefits and burdens distributed differently across regions and roles.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2025
Studies have indicated girls reported higher levels of anxiety and depression during the pandemic, plus more caretaking burdens than boys, but the dip in academic performance did not appear outside STEM.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2025
The department is also planning to reduce regulatory burdens on airlines and ticket agents by writing new rules detailing the definition of a flight cancellation that entitles consumers to ticket refunds, as well as revisit rules on ticket pricing and advertising.
—David Shepardson, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025
Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
As more states move to reduce and phase out their income taxes in the coming years, the lack of an income tax becomes less of an advantage, making the need to address relatively high property tax burdens more imperative.
—Patrick Gleason, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Why would citizens vote for someone who burdens them with regressive taxes and prioritizes labor unions and migrants over them?
—Willie Wilson, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2025
Noun
Debt Reduction – Ongoing debt repayment can reduce interest burdens and enhance free cash flow, increasing equity value.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Moreover, some argue that the regulatory burdens of quarterly reporting have contributed significantly to the sharp decline in the number of public companies in the United States.
—Matt Egan, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2025
But more voters now say utility bills (+2) and healthcare costs (+7) are major burdens, and strong majorities still view all of these expenses as at least a minor problem.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
The Sphinx Organization now runs a variety of programs including mentoring and training, audition support and funding opportunities to off-set the financial burdens and systemic obstacles that could prevent Latino and Black musicians from pursuing careers as professional classical musicians.
—Liz Rothaus Bertrand, Charlotte Observer, 11 Sep. 2025
Her pain is rooted less in the burdens of motherhood and more in the void that emerges in her grief.
—Emma Alpern, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2025
The impact will likely be uneven, with benefits and burdens distributed differently across regions and roles.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2025
Studies have indicated girls reported higher levels of anxiety and depression during the pandemic, plus more caretaking burdens than boys, but the dip in academic performance did not appear outside STEM.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2025
The department is also planning to reduce regulatory burdens on airlines and ticket agents by writing new rules detailing the definition of a flight cancellation that entitles consumers to ticket refunds, as well as revisit rules on ticket pricing and advertising.
—David Shepardson, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
Critics of the way the administration is handling immigration enforcement have raised concerns that holding people without criminal convictions or charges unnecessarily burdens the system and pulls undocumented immigrants away from their families.
—Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
As more states move to reduce and phase out their income taxes in the coming years, the lack of an income tax becomes less of an advantage, making the need to address relatively high property tax burdens more imperative.
—Patrick Gleason, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Why would citizens vote for someone who burdens them with regressive taxes and prioritizes labor unions and migrants over them?
—Willie Wilson, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burdens
Verb
-
And don't forget the mini space rover that loads into the cargo pod.—
John Mihaly,
PC Magazine,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Garfield loads Hank with chummy physicality.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
In visceral and unrelenting prose, the novel troubles the easy distinctions between victim and perpetrator.—
Katie Kitamura
August 21,
Literary Hub,
21 Aug. 2025
-
Notwithstanding, firing Erika McEntarfer troubles me greatly.—
Phillip Molnar,
Mercury News,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The growing number of satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) also worries space sustainability experts, who warn about the increasing risk of orbital collisions.—
Tereza Pultarova,
Space.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
But the immigration worries – with threats of arrest, detention, and deportation for workers – are just one way Trump’s policies are holding back construction.—
Chris Isidore,
CNN Money,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The controversy, which concerns an endorsement deal Kawhi Leonard signed with Clippers’ sponsor Aspiration, has been discussed extensively.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
The central story in the film concerns Scott Page, a gay man who helped broker viaticum deals.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
At one moment in the concerto, the soloist—here the brilliant, committed young pianist Jeonghwan Kim—silently depresses a C-major triad with the left hand and then bangs out a C-major triad with the right, so that the lower strings resonate.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
-
As the user depresses a key, the backside of the key (which is not visible) touches a thin layer of material.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
This diabolical, maximalist group oppresses Gazans and its existence ensures the Palestinians will not have a state.—
Zoltan Istvan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Burdens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burdens. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share