overburdened

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "overburdened" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone or something that has more responsibility or work than they can handle. Example sentence: The new manager quickly became overburdened by the long hours and high expectations of the job.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

If a Native American is raped or assaulted by a non-Indian, she must plead for justice to already overburdened United States attorneys who are often hundreds of miles away.

The New York Times

Nor was he overburdened with either conscience or conviction.

The Guardian - Opinion

In a political age not overburdened with gaiety and good sense, he brought us wit, charm, judgment, principle and decency".

The Guardian

But as the number of orphans has inexorably risen, extended families become overburdened with children, and child-headed households are becoming increasingly common.

The Guardian

Households and firms in Europe's periphery are overburdened with debt, workers' wages squeezed and banks in no mood to lend.

The Economist

Both have a record of backing civic projects in a city not overburdened with them.

The Economist

Federal judges, who opposed the bill because they were overburdened, may well decide to give civil class actions a far lower priority than criminal cases or lazily dismiss them on technicalities.All this explains why the new Senate Minority Leader, Harry Reid, claims that the bill "slams the courthouse door on a wide range of injured plaintiffs".

The Economist

Overburdened airports, along with jammed highways, high gasoline prices and global-warming concerns, may at last push longstanding plans to build fast train service between heavily trafficked urban markets like Los Angeles-San Francisco-Sacramento, Houston-Dallas, St . Louis Chicago-Detroit and Florida's east coast.

The Economist

For that would make a nonsense of its secession.Finally Sir Nicholas warned of a likelihood that the new Scottish administration, overburdened by high expectations, would overspend, putting further pressure on the union.

The Economist

Forensic laboratories are already overburdened, and are places of applied science rather than basic research.

The Economist

They lose their role as the provider, and that frustrates them," says Esther Chavez, whose Casa Amiga women's centre in Ciudad Juarez deals with more and more domestic violence.Crime, much of it related to drug trafficking, is high, and the justice system is overburdenedCrime, much of it related to drug trafficking, is high, and the justice system is overburdened.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "overburdened", be specific about what is causing the burden. For example, instead of saying "The system is overburdened", specify "The system is overburdened with outdated software and a lack of resources."

Common error

Avoid using "overburdened" simply as a synonym for "busy". "Overburdened" implies a negative impact or inability to cope, whereas "busy" merely indicates activity. Choose "busy" if you want to just communicate the state of being occupied without implying negative effects.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "overburdened" is as an adjective. It modifies nouns, describing them as carrying excessive burdens or responsibilities. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is grammatically sound and common.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "overburdened" is an adjective used to describe a state of being excessively burdened, and is grammatically correct as Ludwig AI confirms. Occurring most frequently in news and media, "overburdened" carries a neutral register. It is advisable to specify the cause of the burden when using "overburdened" and to avoid using it as a direct replacement for "busy". Related alternatives include "overwhelmed", "strained", and "overloaded", offering nuanced ways to express similar concepts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

overwhelmed

Focuses on the emotional and mental state of being unable to cope with a large amount of tasks or information.

overloaded

Indicates an excessive amount of something, often leading to system failure or inefficiency.

strained

Highlights the pressure and tension resulting from excessive demands.

overtaxed

Similar to taxed, but with a stronger emphasis on exceeding limits.

taxed

Emphasizes the depletion of resources or energy due to heavy demands.

weighed down

Emphasizes the feeling of being physically or emotionally burdened.

pressed

Suggests being under pressure and short on time or resources.

under pressure

Highlights the stress and expectations associated with heavy responsibilities.

encumbered

Implies being hindered or restricted by something burdensome.

overwhelmed with responsibility

Explicitly states the feeling of being burdened by too many duties.

FAQs

How can I use "overburdened" in a sentence?

You can use "overburdened" to describe something or someone carrying excessive burdens or responsibilities. For example: "The healthcare system is "overburdened" due to the pandemic".

What can I say instead of "overburdened"?

You can use alternatives like "overwhelmed", "strained", or "overloaded" depending on the context.

Which is correct: "The system is overburdened" or "The system is overwhelming"?

While both can be grammatically correct, "The system is "overburdened"" suggests it's carrying too much, whereas "The system is "overwhelming"" implies it is difficult to manage or understand. The choice depends on the intended meaning.

What's the difference between "overburdened" and "stressed"?

"Overburdened" refers to having too many tasks or responsibilities, while "stressed" refers to the emotional or mental strain resulting from pressure. One can be overburdened without being stressed, and vice versa, though they often occur together.