encumber

verb

en·cum·ber in-ˈkəm-bər How to pronounce encumber (audio)

encumbered; encumbering in-ˈkəm-b(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce encumber (audio)

transitive verb

: weigh down, burden

tourists encumbered by heavy luggage

: to impede or hamper the function or activity of : hinder

negotiations encumbered by a lack of trust

: to burden with a legal claim (such as a mortgage)

encumber an estate

Did you know?

Encumber Has French Roots

In Old French, the noun combre meant a defensive obstacle formed by felled trees with sharpened branches facing the enemy. Later, in Middle French, combre referred to a barrier, similar to a dam or weir, constructed in the bed of a river to hold back fish or protect the banks. That notion of holding back is what informs our verb encumber. One can be physically encumbered (as by a heavy load or severe weather) or figuratively (as by bureaucratic restrictions). Combre also gives us the adjectives cumbersome and cumbrous, both meaning "awkward or difficult to handle."

Example Sentences

These rules will only encumber the people we're trying to help. Lack of funding has encumbered the project.

Recent Examples on the Web Trump has dismissed it as little more than a Chinese hoax meant to encumber America’s free market business interests, and has launched diatribes against wind power, while Musk advocates an end to fossil fuels.

Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 12 July 2022 The goal would be to reduce recidivism, provide workforce development and not encumber first-time offenders with a conviction on their records.

Thomas Jewell, cleveland, 26 Oct. 2021 The hope is that the testbed will remove much of the red tape that might otherwise encumber partnering with the government.

Adi Gaskell, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2021 In other words, unused oil and gas leases encumber 1.7 federal million acres in Utah, some of them within sight of national parks and monuments.

Brian Maffly, The Salt Lake Tribune, 4 Aug. 2021 Mitchell’s own first publication at the company, on making smile-detection algorithms perform well for people of different races and genders, also met with a degree of corporate hesitancy that didn’t seem to encumber more conventional AI projects.

Tom Simonite, Wired, 8 June 2021 At that time, Roach said that of the $18.7 million in FEMA funds, $13.6 million had been spent or encumbered, leaving $5.1 million to encumber over the next few weeks.

Christina Hall, Detroit Free Press, 5 May 2021 Roach said of the $18.7 million in FEMA funds, $13.6 million has been spent or encumbered as of Friday, leaving $5.1 million to encumber over the next few weeks.

Christina Hall, Detroit Free Press, 17 Apr. 2021 Suburban voters are convinced that taxes will cost them money, no matter where the hammer drops, and are perplexed that the White House would encumber an economy recovering from the coronavirus.

David M. Drucker, Washington Examiner, 12 Apr. 2021 See More

单词	encumber
释义	encumber verb en·cum·ber in-ˈkəm-bər encumbered; encumbering in-ˈkəm-b(ə-)riŋ transitive verb 1 : weigh down, burden tourists encumbered by heavy luggage 2 : to impede or hamper the function or activity of : hinder negotiations encumbered by a lack of trust 3 : to burden with a legal claim (such as a mortgage) encumber an estate Did you know? Encumber Has French Roots In Old French, the noun combre meant a defensive obstacle formed by felled trees with sharpened branches facing the enemy. Later, in Middle French, combre referred to a barrier, similar to a dam or weir, constructed in the bed of a river to hold back fish or protect the banks. That notion of holding back is what informs our verb encumber. One can be physically encumbered (as by a heavy load or severe weather) or figuratively (as by bureaucratic restrictions). Combre also gives us the adjectives cumbersome and cumbrous, both meaning "awkward or difficult to handle." Synonyms clog cramp embarrass fetter hamper handcuff handicap hinder hobble hog-tie hold back hold up impede inhibit interfere (with) manacle obstruct shackle short-circuit stymie tie up trammel See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences These rules will only encumber the people we're trying to help. Lack of funding has encumbered the project. Recent Examples on the Web Trump has dismissed it as little more than a Chinese hoax meant to encumber America’s free market business interests, and has launched diatribes against wind power, while Musk advocates an end to fossil fuels. Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 12 July 2022 The goal would be to reduce recidivism, provide workforce development and not encumber first-time offenders with a conviction on their records. Thomas Jewell, cleveland, 26 Oct. 2021 The hope is that the testbed will remove much of the red tape that might otherwise encumber partnering with the government. Adi Gaskell, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2021 In other words, unused oil and gas leases encumber 1.7 federal million acres in Utah, some of them within sight of national parks and monuments. Brian Maffly, The Salt Lake Tribune, 4 Aug. 2021 Mitchell’s own first publication at the company, on making smile-detection algorithms perform well for people of different races and genders, also met with a degree of corporate hesitancy that didn’t seem to encumber more conventional AI projects. Tom Simonite, Wired, 8 June 2021 At that time, Roach said that of the $18.7 million in FEMA funds, $13.6 million had been spent or encumbered, leaving $5.1 million to encumber over the next few weeks. Christina Hall, Detroit Free Press, 5 May 2021 Roach said of the $18.7 million in FEMA funds, $13.6 million has been spent or encumbered as of Friday, leaving $5.1 million to encumber over the next few weeks. Christina Hall, Detroit Free Press, 17 Apr. 2021 Suburban voters are convinced that taxes will cost them money, no matter where the hammer drops, and are perplexed that the White House would encumber an economy recovering from the coronavirus. David M. Drucker, Washington Examiner, 12 Apr. 2021 See More Word History Etymology Middle English encombren, from Anglo-French encumbrer, from en- + Middle French combre dam, weir First Known Use 14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Kids Definition encumber verb en·cum·ber in-ˈkəm-bər encumbered; encumbering 1 : to weigh down : burden Their heavy coats encumbered the children. 2 : to cause problems or delays for : hinder Bad weather encumbered the building project. Legal Definition encumber transitive verb en·cum·ber variants also incumber in-ˈkəm-bər encumbered; encumbering : to burden with a claim (as a mortgage or lien) encumbered the land with a mineral lease encumber verb 1 as in to impede to create difficulty for the work or activity of the claim that all of these regulations encumber doctors, taking time away from the actual practice of medicine Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance impede hinder hamper obstruct embarrass inhibit stymie handicap restrain fetter delay constrain shackle hobble cramp block disrupt handcuff clog tie up trammel frustrate thwart hog-tie hold back short-circuit manacle bind tie stifle rein curb retain give a hard time tether strangle interfere (with) cramp one's style balk retard confine brake hold up chain derail check leash halter barricade baffle smother arrest mire suffocate choke blockade roadblock repress foil sabotage muzzle stump suppress bog (down) hedge (in) hem (in) Antonyms & Near Antonyms facilitate help assist aid liberate open loosen clear promote encourage untie make way free release unstop unclog further unplug smooth See More 2 as in to load to place a weight or burden on don't encumber your pack animal so much that it can hardly move Synonyms & Similar Words load burden fill weight laden freight saddle pack weigh lumber stack lade clutter pile clog hamper overburden tax afflict overtax overload oppress heap handicap mound surcharge strain press Antonyms & Near Antonyms unload relieve alleviate discharge unburden disencumber lighten unlade disburden ease See More
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encumber

verb

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

verb

Legal Definition

transitive verb

verb