millstone

[mil-stohn] / ˈmɪlˌstoʊn /

NOUN

heavy mental or emotional burden

Synonyms

STRONGEST

burden

STRONG

accountability affliction albatross anxiety blame charge concern cross difficulty encumbrance grievance hardship hindrance load misfortune onus punishment responsibility strain stress task trial trouble worry

WEAK

deadweight mental weight thorn in one's side

Antonyms

STRONG

advantage aid assistance benefit blessing calmness contentment ease encouragement exculpation exoneration happiness health help peace praise tranquility

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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millstone

It’s not a milestone so much, though, as a millstone.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 14, 2026

Yet today government paperwork is an ever-weightier millstone around the public’s neck.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 2, 2026

“She’s reduced the price. She can’t shift this property and it’s become a bit of a millstone around her neck.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 30, 2026

"She probably thought she was leaving something to her offspring, only to find that it's become a millstone," says Taylor.

From BBC ● Feb. 5, 2026

She felt the weight of it like a millstone around her neck, dragging her down.

From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield

millstone

Example Sentences

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