burdened

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "burdened" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who is weighed down by responsibilities, problems, or emotional distress. Example: "After the unexpected loss of her job, she felt burdened by the financial strain it placed on her family."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

One reason is that like rape, domestic violence is a gendered crime, now so burdened with gender politics that makes it hard to talk about it with any nuance.

The Guardian - Opinion

In the 1990s, sub-Saharan African countries that had been poorly run found themselves burdened with debts that they had no hope of paying.

The Guardian - Business

This sense of alienation comes from the trend of young people being increasingly pitted against each other, fighting for the same precarious jobs and terrified of taking risks while burdened with unprecedented debt.

The Guardian

After Sylvia died, I didn't want our sons to be burdened with admin after my death, so I cashed in my life insurance policy and paid a £20,000 lump sum to the American cryonics company.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The average US college graduate is burdened by nearly $30,000 in debt, and millions are in default on their student loans.

The Guardian - Opinion

She is now free to make her own arrangements about how much time she spends with her father, and is no longer burdened with disobeying court orders.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

In my case, our family relationships were structured by a detailed order of the court, and all of us, including our child, were burdened with having to make it work.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

He added: "Banks burdened with bad loans lend less".

The Guardian - Money

The story of British households is simply told: we went into the crash with historic levels of debt; we cut back a bit, but are still burdened with debts worth about 140% of our income – higher than the eurozone and even credit-happy America.

The Guardian - Opinion

Second, when teachers did stick up for themselves, senior leaders or poorly-paid teaching assistants became burdened with these tasks.

The Guardian

Alas, the same could not be said for the saddle cloth with which he was burdened by the racecourse.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "burdened", be specific about what is causing the burden to provide clarity and context for the reader. For example, instead of just saying "He felt burdened", specify "He felt burdened by the weight of his responsibilities."

Common error

Avoid using "burdened" when a weaker term like "concerned" or "involved" would be more appropriate. "Burdened" implies a significant weight or problem, so ensure the context warrants such a strong word choice.

Linguistic Context

The word "burdened" primarily functions as a past participle adjective, describing a noun that is carrying a literal or figurative burden. As supported by Ludwig, it indicates that something or someone is affected by a weight or difficulty, either physical or emotional.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Formal & Business

17%

Science

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "burdened" is a versatile past participle adjective frequently used to describe a state of being weighed down by physical, emotional, or figurative burdens. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage, especially in news and media contexts. While synonyms like "weighed down" and "encumbered" exist, the specific context should guide the choice. When using "burdened", ensure the intensity of the word aligns with the severity of the situation being described to avoid overstatement. Its prevalence in reputable sources underscores its appropriateness in both formal and neutral writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

weighed down

A more literal alternative, suggesting physical or emotional heaviness.

encumbered

Suggests being hindered or impeded by something, often a responsibility or obligation.

saddled with

Implies being given an unwanted responsibility or problem.

hampered

Focuses on the restriction or impediment caused by something.

oppressed

Suggests being weighed down by unjust or harsh treatment.

troubled

Indicates a state of worry or distress.

beset by

Implies being persistently affected or attacked by problems or difficulties.

overwhelmed

Suggests feeling unable to cope with a large amount of something.

strained

Focuses on the pressure and tension caused by a difficult situation.

under pressure

Highlights the external forces causing stress and difficulty.

FAQs

How can I use "burdened" in a sentence?

You can use "burdened" to describe someone or something carrying a heavy load, either literally or figuratively. For instance, "The company was "burdened with debt"" or "She felt "burdened by responsibility"".

What's a synonym for "burdened"?

Alternatives to "burdened" include "weighed down", "encumbered", or "saddled with". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "burdened by" or "burdened with"?

Both "burdened by" and "burdened with" are grammatically correct, though "burdened with" is more commonly used when referring to something tangible, while "burdened by" is more often used for abstract concepts such as feelings or responsibilities.

What is the difference between "burdened" and "encumbered"?

"Burdened" emphasizes the weight or difficulty caused by something, while "encumbered" focuses more on the hindrance or obstruction. You might be "burdened" by debt, but "encumbered" by regulations.