encumber
encumbered; encumbering; encumbers
To encumber is to weigh someone or something down with a physical or psychological burden. You may find yourself encumbered by a heavy backpack or with anxieties. Either way, it's a heavy load to bear!
You can also use encumber to describe something that restricts you in some way: you're so encumbered by your homework load you can’t go to the concert Saturday night. The root, cumber, has several shades of meaning — including "to burden" and "to be overwhelmed."
Vocabulary lists containing encumber
Sandy, of Grease fame, Dame Olivia Newton-John was a British-Australian singer, actress, and activist. Four-time Grammy winner, with numerous top-ten singles and platinum singles and albums, Newton-John became one of the most popular international entertainers of the 1970s and 1980s. Later, she became an environmental activist, and her own breast cancer battles created years of cancer prevention advocacy, including the opening of a cancer and wellness center in Melbourne. She died of cancer on August 8, 2022, at home surrounded by her family. This tribute list includes song lyrics, articles, and a family statement.
In the first volume of the beloved Chronicles of Prydain series, an assistant pig-keeper embarks on an epic quest.
This classic novel explores social class and conventions in early 20th-century England. Read the full text here.
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