Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions

overburden

[oh-ver-bur-dn, oh-ver-bur-dn] / ˌoʊ vərˈbɜr dn, ˈoʊ vərˌbɜr dn /
VERB
overload
Synonyms
Antonyms
STRONGEST


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.

See Examples For:

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.

From Salon Jun. 2, 2026

Override foes said a hefty property tax jump would overburden residents, particularly seniors.

From The Wall Street Journal Apr. 15, 2026

People, the report says, were deterred from accessing health care because they did not want to overburden the NHS.

From BBC Mar. 19, 2026

Even so, to overburden a few food metaphors, there are a lot of flavors at play in Healy’s poignant, surreal family drama.

From Seattle Times Nov. 6, 2023

“We cannot overburden our pack animals; the Princess Eilonwy and Gurgi will share our own horses.”

From "The Black Cauldron" by Lloyd Alexander

He occasionally overburdens the reader with minutiae of political and organizational rivalries and is more workman than stylist.

From The Wall Street Journal Mar. 23, 2026

This simultaneously overburdens and disempowers the lower courts.

From Slate Oct. 9, 2025

That means tools such as vaccines will be prioritized; but in countries where dengue is endemic, the rainy season completely overburdens their health systems and what they desperately need are treatments, said Crockett.

From Scientific American Oct. 4, 2023

Laura Cantrell is an emphatic single-syllable rhymer, a classic-minded country singer who never overburdens a song: Her last album was a collection of Kitty Wells covers, and that’s about as contemporary as her tastes run.

From New York Times Feb. 7, 2014

The general absence of a distinct aim sharpens the faculties in the keen pursuit of details, and lends an importance to trifles which overburdens at every turn the responsibility borne by the nerves.

From Don Orsino by F. Marion (Francis Marion) Crawford

"I think the process is for profit, not for justice - it won't actually solve the issue of littering, and now the justice system is being overburdened," he said.

From BBC Aug. 19, 2026

They say that overburdened European health systems and reimbursement cuts in China add to the pressure on sales.

From The Wall Street Journal Apr. 23, 2026

The industry went through a difficult time in the 2010s because of overburdened balance sheets, and now many companies are staying lean to be flexible for the future.

From Barron's Apr. 22, 2026

The trauma center is overburdened and under-resourced, forcing Robby and his fellow attending physicians to encourage their residents and interns to think creatively without losing empathy for their patients.

From Salon Jan. 8, 2026

It was early autumn, years ago, during a rare year when a late frost in the springtime had not killed the orchards, and the trees were almost overburdened with glistening fruit.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols

However, opponents said the proposals risked overburdening already stretched services.

From BBC Oct. 9, 2025

As an advocate for better food in schools and hospitals, she sees her love of “cheats” as a tool to help institutions create better meals without overburdening their staff.

From Salon Dec. 9, 2024

Its creators wanted to avoid overburdening the Weather Service’s computing system, so it does not include as many variables as a private company’s proprietary one might, he said.

From New York Times Jan. 12, 2024

“We’re going to see an overburdening of our health and social systems,” Aranda said.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 26, 2023

It is commonly known, for instance, that high-livers, as they are called, are likely to be troubled with diseases like indigestion, rheumatism, or gout,—diseases which are the result of overburdening those organs just mentioned.

From Rural Hygiene by Henry N. (Henry Neely) Ogden




Vocabulary lists containing overburden


Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 12,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training