a massive burden

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a massive burden" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a significant weight or responsibility that someone is carrying, either literally or metaphorically. Example: "After losing her job, she felt like she was carrying a massive burden on her shoulders as she struggled to support her family."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

The penalty points were a massive burden and we just couldn't overcome it.

The Guardian - Sport

Ahmadinejad's spending policies – including cheap loans – also left the banking sector with a massive burden of non-performing loans.

The Guardian

He added: "We want to end the lifetime of debt which is a massive burden for students.

The Guardian

At least Moeen Ali was not suffering from a massive burden of expectation when he was given the ball.

The Guardian - Sport

He warned that the surge was placing a massive burden on the countries, with the potential to undermine stability in the region.

The Guardian

The potential for years or even decades of uncertainty is a massive burden that many businesses say they could do without.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

So, I'm basically being told I'm damaged goods, a potentially massive burden, and that he's doing me a favor by being into me -- because how could anyone love a cancer survivor with no insurance?

Huffington Post

Ultimately, this shift rates a new and massive burden on American taxpayers, forces out private insurance choices, and finally creates government as the dominant insurance provider.

Forbes

"People who are susceptible to this are people looking for an escape: students suffering under the massive burden of studies, men who have failed in business and women who suffer from society's maltreatment," said Tahk, director of the International Religions Research Institute.

Los Angeles Times

A slump in his shoulders from the massive burden.

Huffington Post

It was a massive emotional burden, but there was no time for mourning.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a massive burden", ensure the context clearly defines what is causing the burden and who or what is affected by it. This helps to create a more impactful and understandable statement.

Common error

Avoid repeating "a massive burden" too frequently in your writing. Vary your phrasing by using synonyms like "significant strain" or "heavy responsibility" to maintain reader engagement and prevent redundancy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a massive burden" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object or subject complement in a sentence. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it describes something substantial and difficult to bear.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Reference

2%

Academia

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a massive burden" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe something significantly challenging or overwhelming. As noted by Ludwig AI, it conveys a sense of weight and responsibility, often in contexts related to finance, health, or emotional well-being. Predominantly found in news and media sources, it maintains a neutral register. When using the phrase, ensure the context clarifies the nature and impact of the burden. Consider varying your language with synonyms like "a heavy load" or "a significant weight" to avoid repetition and improve readability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a gigantic burden

Replaces "massive" with "gigantic", emphasizing the extreme size of the burden.

a huge burden

Substitutes "massive" with "huge", a more common synonym.

a monumental burden

Replaces "massive" with "monumental", suggesting a burden of historical significance or great size.

an immense burden

Uses "immense" in place of "massive", highlighting the extent of the burden.

an enormous burden

Replaces "massive" with "enormous", a direct synonym emphasizing size.

a colossal burden

Employs "colossal" instead of "massive", conveying a burden of immense proportions.

a heavy load

Offers a more literal and widely understood way to describe a substantial burden.

a significant weight

Replaces "burden" with "weight", focusing on the heaviness and impact of the problem.

a considerable strain

Shifts the focus to the stress caused by the burden, rather than the burden itself.

a crushing responsibility

Emphasizes the overwhelming nature of the responsibility involved.

FAQs

What does "a massive burden" mean?

The phrase "a massive burden" refers to something that is a very heavy or significant responsibility, problem, or difficulty to deal with. It implies that whatever is being described is causing considerable stress or hardship.

How can I use "a massive burden" in a sentence?

You can use "a massive burden" to describe financial debt, emotional stress, or any situation that feels overwhelmingly difficult. For example, "The student loan debt was "a massive burden" on their early career."

What can I say instead of "a massive burden"?

You can use alternatives like "a heavy load", "a significant weight", or "a crushing responsibility" depending on the context.

Is it more appropriate to say "a large burden" or "a massive burden"?

While both "a large burden" and "a massive burden" are grammatically correct, "a massive burden" suggests a greater degree of difficulty and impact. "Large" simply indicates size, whereas "massive" implies something is overwhelming or extremely significant.