OVERBURDEN Synonyms: 17 Similar and Opposite Words

overburden

verb

ˌō-vər-ˈbər-dᵊn

Definition of overburden

as in to overload

to fill or load to excess it is important that you bring on the hike plenty of food and water, but don't overburden your pack with unnecessary gear

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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 overburden The concept has overwhelmingly blurred the lines between professional and personal hours for physicians, overburdening an already tenuous workforce. — Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 In the end, some 125 took the offer, threatening to overburden a corps already struggling to inspect even a sliver of the nation’s 130,000 licensed firearms dealers. — Alec MacGillis, ProPublica, 1 June 2026 The Legislature has repeatedly rejected stiffer criminal penalties for wayward operators and stymied efforts to let cities or counties pick up enforcement slack when state inspectors are overburdened. — Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 5 July 2026 In January 2025, a federal judge ruled that portion of the ordinance overburdens free speech rights by prohibiting anyone from providing any lecture in any San Diego public park or beach. — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for overburden

Recent Examples of Synonyms for overburden

Verb

Be sure to separate and sort your laundry properly to avoid overloading.

— Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 30 June 2026
In a cautionary tale of what can happen when overloading a young talent, however, injuries severely blighted Ansu’s legacy at the Spotify Camp Nou.

— Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026

Definition of overload

Verb

Dominic Canzone and Randy Arozarena walked to load the bases with one out before Josh Naylor struck out swinging.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
Whether it's stored inside an apartment, packed into an SUV for a weekend getaway, or loaded into an RV before hitting the road, its compact folding frame makes transportation and storage remarkably simple.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 July 2026

Definition of load

Verb

Unlike larger networks burdened by high costs, Mercury is built to grow sustainably, providing the right support without compromising independence.

— Frank Racioppi, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Trump had argued that a president shouldn’t be burdened with defending himself against decades-old charges.

— Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 29 June 2026

Definition of burden

Browse Nearby Words

overbright

overburden

overburdened

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“Overburden.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/overburden. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of overburden

verb

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