encumbered 1 of 2

adjective

as in hindered

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encumbered

2 of 2

verb

past tense of encumber
1
as in hampered
to create difficulty for the work or activity of the claim that all of these regulations encumber doctors, taking time away from the actual practice of medicine

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in loaded
to place a weight or burden on don't encumber your pack animal so much that it can hardly move

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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 encumbered
Adjective
Now Democrats have a chance to replace Platner with a new candidate—someone who is, perhaps, less encumbered—and redouble their efforts to flip Collins’s seat. — Elaine Godfrey, The Atlantic, 9 July 2026
Verb
The open publishing model that allows anyone to develop an application and distribute it to a small circle of friends or colleagues to solve a niche problem is now encumbered by formal identity verification. — Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026 Already in play is Manhattan Beach Studios, another Hackman Capital property encumbered by a $240-million loan from Deutsche Bank that the lender is in the process of selling. — Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026 The Mavericks now begin a comprehensive search for their next head coach, hoping their next candidate is a promising figure with little regard for the spree of bad luck that has encumbered this organization. — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 May 2026 Many analysts noting the stock’s run-up due to news in March of price increases and a general sense of relief that the company wouldn’t be encumbered by a massive acquisition of traditional assets. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 17 Apr. 2026 His brand of athleticism is predicated on a bouncy explosiveness that shouldn’t be encumbered with unnecessary bulking. — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026 It will be encumbered neither by norms nor the exigencies that compel speech in a democratic society. — Casey Ryan Kelly, The Conversation, 9 Mar. 2026 The department is required to be paid fair market value for any land that is purchased, rented or encumbered, according to a September 2025 appraisal of the property. — Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026 Most of the properties, which are owned by LLCs, are delinquent on tax obligations while some are encumbered by mortgages that are in default —racking up penalties and interest, Seward added. — Patrick Danner, San Antonio Express-News, 10 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encumbered
  1. handicapped
  2. hampered
  3. loaded
  4. impeded
  5. burdened
  6. hindered
  7. filled
  8. embarrassed
Adjective
  • Last year, a Senatobia officer threatened a Black woman with a Taser, pulling her from her car and onto the ground and arresting her during a confrontation over a handicapped parking space in the same Walmart lot where Kohen was shot.
    — Sophie Bates, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Gordon runs over with his car and leaves permanently handicapped.
    — Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of handicapped
Verb
  • Cocoa production was hampered by extreme-weather issues for years, causing prices for the crop to surge.
    — Aoife Walsh, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026
  • O’Connor, conversely, may be hampered by his sympathetic warmth.
    — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of hampered
Verb
  • The process sends digital instructions between devices; the odor itself comes from supplies already loaded into the wearable.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Down two, the Rays loaded the bases with one out in the ninth, but Liam Hicks grounded into what initially was ruled a game-ending double play.
    — Ryan Morik OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of loaded
Verb
  • The rangers moved the man off the glacier and made multiple attempts to airlift the man off the mountain, but rescue efforts were impeded by inclement weather.
    — Tim Fang, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • In his ruling, Judge Joseph Montano found that prosecutors had impeded grand jurors who wanted to hear from defense witnesses.
    — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of impeded
Verb
  • Kaegi said their decisions unfairly burdened homeowners, but the board argued Kaegi aimed too high.
    — A.D. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 27 Oct. 2026
  • But many of the vehicles still lack the cash flow to pay interest and remain burdened with unprofitable public projects, S&P said.
    — Anniek Bao,Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of burdened
Verb
  • This hindered Ukraine's ability to intercept drones and disrupted missions.
    — Ava Pukatch, NPR, 24 Oct. 2026
  • But the effects of the Middle East conflict, including the choked Strait of Hormuz, hindered that possibility.
    — Dylan Lysen, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of hindered
Verb
  • Next is nourishment, which is about making sure that the space created by the loss of your person isn’t only filled with pain.
    — Naomi Barr, Flow Space, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The Burberry x Smythson notebooks are filled with Smythson’s signature blue lightweight paper, while the opening and closing pages feature a London map print inspired by the fall 2026 Burberry runway collection, or the house check.
    — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of filled
Verb
  • Chicago embarrassed Philadelphia, while the Eagles squandered a late lead against the Rams before suffering an improbable loss to the Jaguars in London.
    — OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The Longhorns’ offense scored 17 points against a Florida defense that Missouri and South Carolina embarrassed.
    — Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of embarrassed

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Cite this Entry

“Encumbered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encumbered. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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