an overwhelming burden

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an overwhelming burden" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or responsibility that is excessively heavy or difficult to manage. Example: "After taking on multiple projects at work, I felt as though I was carrying an overwhelming burden that was affecting my mental health."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

That doesn't sound like an overwhelming burden.

The New York Times

Critics like to lump these costs in with the more direct Olympics costs, emphasizing an overwhelming burden placed on the BC and Canadian taxpayer.

The Guardian

I was watching the funds rolling in and almost feeling worse in some ways, just seeing this money coming in for us, just feeling an overwhelming burden to turn this thing around".

The New York Times

The stress of their children living far away is an overwhelming burden for women, so Timberland collaborates with Verité, an NGO that provides social audits and training, to develop a program to help workers cope with both shop floor and home stress.

The Guardian

It suddenly cast upon New York bankers an overwhelming burden.

Forbes

At the same time, he acknowledges that HIV, TB and malaria have created an overwhelming burden.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

One is that to balance the books, to reduce the gap between taxes and spending from the current £90bn a year, the overwhelming burden must be taken by public service and welfare cuts.

BBC

Cambridge, Mass., now known to most Americans as the city where a homeowner can be arrested for "breaking into" his own home, serves as a good example of the overwhelming burden residential and business property owners across the country are about to confront.

Forbes

If December's Copenhagen climate conference were a person, then would they be heading for a nervous breakdown triggered by the overwhelming burden of expectations, or excited by the key role they've been given?

Independent

They worry that the registry would create an overwhelming monitoring burden and that it uses crude means of assessing the likelihood that offenders might repeat their crimes.

The New York Times

Although it had massive problems with regulators (the Securities & Exchange Commission is probing it for accounting shenanigans) and what appears to be an overwhelming debt burden, the company boasted good assets, and Soviero thought Notebaert would be able to manage through the problems.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "an overwhelming burden", ensure the context clearly indicates what is causing the burden and its impact. For instance, specify whether it is a financial, emotional, or professional burden.

Common error

Avoid vague statements about feeling "an overwhelming burden" without identifying its source. Clearly define what is creating the burden to provide context and avoid confusion. For instance, instead of just stating feeling an overwhelming burden, mention it is the "an overwhelming burden of student loan debt".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an overwhelming burden" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "burden" is the noun and "overwhelming" is an adjective modifying it. This phrase typically acts as the subject or object of a sentence, describing something that imposes significant weight or difficulty. As Ludwig AI suggests, the expression is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an overwhelming burden" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that effectively conveys a sense of being heavily weighed down by a significant responsibility or difficulty. As Ludwig AI confirms, the expression is appropriate for use in written English. While it appears most often in news and scientific contexts, its versatility allows for use in diverse settings. To enhance clarity, remember to specify the source of the burden, thus maximizing the phrase's impact. By considering these nuances, you can confidently and accurately employ "an overwhelming burden" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an immense load

Replaces "burden" with "load", emphasizing the quantity or weight of the responsibility. "Immense" amplifies the scale.

a crushing weight

Uses "weight" instead of "burden", highlighting the oppressive and debilitating nature of the obligation, and "crushing" intensifies the impact.

a tremendous strain

Focuses on the pressure and stress caused by the burden, replacing "burden" with "strain" and "overwhelming" with "tremendous".

an unbearable pressure

Shifts the focus to the pressure aspect, suggesting it's too much to handle. "Unbearable" implies a limit has been reached.

a massive responsibility

Highlights the responsibility aspect, emphasizing the scale and importance of what needs to be handled and "massive" describes the size.

an onerous task

Focuses on the difficulty and laboriousness of the burden, with "onerous" describing how unpleasant the task is.

a crippling obligation

Emphasizes the limiting and debilitating effect of the obligation, suggesting it hinders progress or freedom. "Crippling" increases the power of the burden.

an excessive demand

Highlights the demanding nature of the burden, suggesting it's beyond reasonable expectations. "Excessive" shows how much it exceeds a normal demand.

a weighty concern

Replaces the concept of a burden with a "concern", but the adjective "weighty" still gives the idea of importance and seriousness.

a heavy encumbrance

Uses a more formal and less common synonym, "encumbrance", for burden, suggesting something that hinders or impedes progress, "heavy" increases the level of the obstacle.

FAQs

How can I use "an overwhelming burden" in a sentence?

You can use "an overwhelming burden" to describe something that is difficult to bear or manage. For example, "The refugees faced "an overwhelming burden" due to lack of resources and support."

What are some alternatives to "an overwhelming burden"?

Some alternatives include "an immense load", "a crushing weight", or "a tremendous strain", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What is the difference between "an overwhelming burden" and "an unnecessary burden"?

"An overwhelming burden" refers to a weight or responsibility that is excessively heavy or difficult to manage, while "an unnecessary burden" refers to a load or responsibility that is avoidable or superfluous.

Is it more appropriate to use "an overwhelming burden" or "an immense burden"?

Both "an overwhelming burden" and "an immense burden" are appropriate, but "overwhelming" suggests a feeling of being unable to cope, while "immense" simply emphasizes the size or scale of the burden.