encumbrances

noun

plural of encumbrance
as in obstacles
something that makes movement or progress difficult without the encumbrance of a heavy backpack, I could sprint along the trail

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 encumbrances On July 10, Charles Pernicka, Solutions’ attorney, replied in writing, providing documents that showed there were no formal encumbrances, such as liens or leases, on the properties’ deeds. — Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Sep. 2026 To Tommy, Anna and Molly are twittering encumbrances, idiotic in their insistence on good works and the good of man, their endless remorseful hedgings about the Communist Party. — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026 Stopping the train to nowhere funding, using those funds to pay off our federal EDD debt so that businesses can reduce THEIR EDD encumbrances by the 1-5% they’re being charged now. — Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 4 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encumbrances
  1. obstacles
  2. hurdles
  3. obstructions
  4. embarrassments
  5. barriers
Noun
  • If your balances aren't declining despite consistent payments and spending reductions, evaluate whether high interest charges, multiple obligations or insufficient cash flow are the underlying obstacles.
    — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Amazon Watch, a nonprofit focused on environmental protection and Indigenous rights, also welcomed Lula’s victory while warning of legislative obstacles.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of obstacles
Noun
  • Those changes have created new hurdles for enrollment, according to experts.
    — Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • However, even if Tesla’s shareholders were to approve the merger, there are potentially regulatory hurdles abroad.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of hurdles
Noun
  • Police reported 26 arrests during Wednesday night’s operations and said all roads were clear of obstructions Thursday morning.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Jerome noticed several obstructions in the road while biking.
    — Finnegan Belleau, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of obstructions
Noun
  • Sitting around a table in the soundstage where the pilot for I Love Lucy was filmed, the six of them tailored the roles to the actors and infused the script with arguments, embarrassments, and confessions from their own relationships.
    — Eliana Dockterman, Time, 26 June 2026
  • The order to whitewash America’s historic sites of anything less than rosy about the nation’s past has led to some predictable embarrassments.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 June 2026
Definition of embarrassments
Noun
  • Yet when a safety issue arises, competitive barriers come down.
    — Dennis Speigel, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026
  • As with many maturing technologies, experts say wellness devices have become cheaper and easier to produce, lowering the barriers to entry.
    — Amy O’Brien, Vogue, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of barriers

Browse Nearby Words

encumbrance
encumbrances
encyclical
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Cite this Entry

“Encumbrances.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encumbrances. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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