BURDEN Synonyms: 183 Similar and Opposite Words

burden 1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈbər-dᵊn

Definition of burden

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

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

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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

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burden

3 of 3

verb

as in to load

to place a weight or burden on burdened the dog with a little backpack

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Breeds with structural health burdens, the brachycephalic group in particular, may face continued scrutiny from veterinarians and welfare groups. — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 16 Oct. 2026 With the United States pulling back, a new bargain in which Europe carries more of the nuclear burden and has more say in the choice to use these weapons is the only way to ensure transatlantic security. — Ivo H. Daalder, Foreign Affairs, 16 Oct. 2026

Verb

Because Sand has not served in a legislative capacity, he isn’t burdened by a controversial voting record on leftist policies, as is Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico, who is also trying to flip a red state seat. — Gabrielle M. Etzel, The Washington Examiner, 13 Oct. 2026 There are many reasons why women do not feel able to speak up, with the top one, at 52 percent, being their not wanting to burden others. — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for burden

Recent Examples of Synonyms for burden

Noun

Neo1 combines hydraulic force with electric servo control to balance load capacity and positioning accuracy.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2026
According to Formlabs, this improves strength, toughness, heat resistance, and resistance to gradual deformation under sustained loads, while producing a harder, less tacky surface.

— Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of load

Noun

No perpetrators have been publicly identified, and no claims of responsibility have been made public.

— JOHN LEICESTER, Arkansas Online, 15 Oct. 2026
The carrier is expected to hold NATO command ship responsibilities until mid-2027, positioning it to lead a multinational naval force if activated during an international crisis.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of responsibility

Noun

Another chorus of thoughts and prayers Members of the Bend community gathered downtown in Drake Park on Thursday evening for a prayer vigil to support each other and grieve.

— Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
Trump, however, has since changed his tune, amid a chorus of negative feedback.

— Chad de Guzman, Time, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of chorus

Verb

Many of those concerns have centered on the often-troubling biases programmed into AI platforms.

— Jakob McWhinney, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
And some Pac-12 teams emerging through the first half of the season could trouble the Broncos, such as Oregon State and Colorado State.

— Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of trouble

Noun

Protesters blocked the loading and unloading of fresh food and other goods at supermarket distribution warehouses near Naples on Monday, Sky TG24 reported.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026
At the loading dock, deliveries arrived in trucks lined up in a queue that had been planned a year in advance.

— Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of loading

Noun

Given that the United States keeps getting mired in errant conflicts, Congress urgently needs to reassert its constitutional obligation to approve acts of war and oversee retrenchment.

— Charles Kupchan, Foreign Affairs, 19 Oct. 2026
Council members discussed how to balance the nonprofit’s need for a long-term agreement to attract donors with the city’s need to ensure the building remains in use and the organization fulfills its obligations.

— Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of obligation

Verb

That's also depressing consumer sentiment and squeezing people coping with higher prices, according to economists.

— Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 12 Oct. 2026
Hall-effect switches come in 3-pin or 5-pin varieties, and the polarity of the switch’s magnet must be compatible with the PCB’s sensors, or depressing the switch may not trigger the sensor beneath it.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of depress

Browse Nearby Words

burbling

burden

burdened

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Style

“Burden.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burden. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of burden

noun (1)

noun (2)

verb

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