to encumber

Examples

• All

• Some species, like macaques, briefly totter on two legs when encumbered with an awkwardly shaped load.

  Academic text (1995)

• Furthermore, urban expansion has encumbered agrarian families' abilities to fully provision their households.

  Academic text (2017)

• Or should we encourage young people holding down jobs that encumber their academic schedules?

  Academic text (2012)

• Let's not get encumbered by detail.

  Meet Joe Black (1998)

• John was skeptical and reluctant to encumber what little freedom he had left.

  Fiction book (1993)

• Family members may feel encumbered by obligations to their extended families.

  Academic text (2008)

• We should ask instead what he will attempt to establish once he has become less encumbered by the inherited issues.

  Academic text (2010)

• Whenever snowfall levels are high, wolves are extremely efficient predators of moose, which are encumbered by deep snow.

  Academic text (2003)

• The hikers were encumbered by their heavy backpacks, making it difficult to climb the steep trail.

• She felt encumbered by her responsibilities, which prevented her from enjoying her free time.

Synonyms

B

to block

vsto encumber

989 3.0

To stop movement, access, or progress

is broader, including weighing someone down to impede action as well

R

to restrain

vsto encumber

233 4.6

Hold a person or thing so it cannot move freely

includes that control but emphasizes added weight that hinders action

O

to obstruct

vsto encumber

89 5.1

To block a path or view

often blocks similarly but also includes adding burden that slows action

H

to hinder

vsto encumber

75 3.6

To make it difficult for people or things to do something

emphasizes actual weight or restriction that directly impedes movement or action

I

to impede

vsto encumber

59 6.5

To slow the progress or movement of people and things

adds a burdening restriction that not only delays but limits movement

C

to constrain

vsto encumber

53 5.6

To limit what someone can do or how they can act

is about adding weight or hindrance that directly slows movement or action

H

to hamper

vsto encumber

47 4.2

To make it harder for someone or something to move forward

adds a heavier burden that not only obstructs but weighs down action

B

to burden

vsto encumber

40 3.7

To give someone a heavy load or a difficult task

focuses on physical or practical weight that stops movement or action

T

to tie down

vsto encumber

31 4.7

To limit someone's freedom because they have responsibilities

is more physical or practical, adding weight that directly slows movement

B

blocking

vsto encumber

23 3.4

Stopping a player from moving by standing in front of them

also prevents action but frequently through burdening weight rather than simple obstruction

S

to shackle

vsto encumber

19 6.2

To restrain someone with chains or limit their freedom

includes such confinement but also nonphysical burdens that impede action

H

to hobble

vsto encumber

17 5.7

To limit the progress or success of something

is more about adding a weight or burden that makes tasks harder to do

B

to box in

vsto encumber

16 4.7

To stop a person or thing from moving, acting freely and making choices

is similar but emphasizes added burdens that slow movement, not just enclosure

H

to hamstring

vsto encumber

12 7.9

To make a person or group unable to act effectively

acts similarly but usually by adding burdens that directly impede movement

C

constraining

vsto encumber

7 6.3

Makes someone or something unable to act freely

focuses more on physical or practical weight that impedes movement

C

confining

vsto encumber

5 5.6

That limits someone's freedom or ability to move

also restricts but emphasizes added weight that blocks movement rather than just limits space

C

constricting

vsto encumber

4 6.5

Causes people to feel limited and unable to act freely

is broader, adding burdens that physically or practically prevent action

L

to load down

vsto encumber

• Informal

2 4.2

To make someone or something carry too many heavy things

is a general term for adding weight or restriction that impedes action

B

to burthen

vsto encumber

• Archaic

1 9.9

To weigh down with a heavy load or worry

is the modern general term for adding weight that blocks movement

H

to hedge

vsto encumber

1 6.4

To limit someone by creating boundaries or rules

adds a burdening restriction that particularly stops or slows movement

E

to enchain

vsto encumber

• Archaic

1 9.5

To tie someone with chains or hold them under close control

is broader, covering burdens that slow movement without needing physical fastening

H

hindering

vsto encumber

1 5.9

Causing delay or blocking progress

adds a burdening restriction that targets movement rather than timing only

I

impeding

vsto encumber

1 5.7

Making movement or progress slower and more difficult

is broader, adding burdens that specifically slow or stop action

E

to enfetter

vsto encumber

• Archaic

1 9.9

To limit someone's freedom or creativity

is more general, adding physical or heavy limits that block movement

C

to cumber

vsto encumber

• Archaic

1 9.9

To make movement or progress difficult by being a burden

adds weight or restriction that specifically slows action or movement

B

to bind hand and foot

vsto encumber

• Informal

1 8.0

To stop someone completely from acting freely

is similar but often means adding a burden that makes action hard rather than total immobilization

T

tethering

vsto encumber

1 6.3

Holding someone back so they cannot grow or act freely

is more specific about adding a hindering weight that blocks action

I

immobilizing

vsto encumber

6.1

An action that stops a person or thing from moving

is similar but can be less absolute, adding burdens that slow rather than stop movement

T

to tramell

vsto encumber

• UK

9.9

To hold back or make it hard for someone to act freely

includes entanglement but more often means adding weight that impedes movement

Antonyms

L

to liberate

202 4.3

Set someone free from prison or unfair control

U

to unburden

11 4.9

To remove a heavy load from someone, physical or emotional, often by talking

How Burdened

to overburden

6 5.9

to encumber

6 7.6

to hamper

47 4.2

to hinder

75 3.6

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology