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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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 encumbrances 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
  • Crews can drive directly into rivers or lakes without installing additional equipment, allowing the vehicle to continue moving even when water obstacles stand in the way.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 2 July 2026
  • Remember, your perspective shapes your reality—choose to see opportunities over obstacles.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of obstacles
Noun
  • Ro said interactive chatbots have technological hurdles to overcome, such as a mismatch between their verbal comments and their facial expressions.
    — Hyung-Jin Kim, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
  • Meanwhile, the technological and financial hurdles of fighting the sonic boom appeared insurmountable.
    — David Szondy July 02, New Atlas, 2 July 2026
Definition of hurdles
Noun
  • The alternating placements of the piles/objects are very precise, which creates a series of chicanes, indicating they are not intended as obstructions but rather to prevent rapid ingress and egress by any vehicle toward the tunnels.
    — Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
  • Recent emergencies have included animals falling off a boat, lacerations from dog fights on the beach, clamshell ingestion, sand impaction, which can cause obstructions in the digestive system, and of course Lyme disease.
    — Sylvie Bigar, Forbes.com, 30 June 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
  • Sacramento Regional Transit, according to the grand jury, did not consult with the MAC or conduct tests before installing the barriers, which met ADA requirements, on 71 buses.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 7 July 2026
  • When those barriers fall, the gap in health outcomes will begin to close.
    — Russell Cox, Forbes.com, 7 July 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 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on encumbrances

Nglish: Translation of encumbrances for Spanish Speakers

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