overburdening

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'overburdening' is correct and usable in written English.
It is the present participle form of the verb 'overburden', which means to impose too great a load on something or someone. You can use 'overburdening' when you want to describe a situation where something or someone is given more weight or responsibility than they can handle. Example: The students complained about the overburdening workload given to them by their teachers, causing them to feel stressed and overwhelmed.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

And she refuses to ask for a slot on primetime TV to outline her views once more, for fear of overburdening her voters and raising too many expectations.

The Guardian - Opinion

And the shipping firms want to keep their fleets in service for as long as possible, which could have a curious side-effect: as the decommissioning deadline approaches, companies will rush to dispose of their tankers at the last moment, overburdening whatever green facilities then exist, and leaving no alternative but to keep sending ships to the graveyard beaches of Asia.

The Economist

Governments still have an important role to play: they must invest in things that improve productivity eg, transport, health and education but they must do so effectively or risk overburdening their citizens with taxes".What we need to do on skills, productivity and enterprise is fairly obvious," says Mr Blair.

The Economist

But such a change, which would require the framework agreement for the facility to be amended, again risks overburdening it.It would also take time to ratify.

The Economist

And unless there is genuine risk-sharing, it will be hard to clean up losses without overburdening national budgets and damaging the credibility of the new bank supervisor from the outset.Another pressing question is Greece and Portugal.

The Economist

Extracting so much revenue in a country that is not yet rich has already squeezed poor people hard and slowed growth by overburdening businesses.

The Economist

Many users simply left their computers connected, overburdening the access providers' modems and computers to the point that other customers could not gain access.

The Economist

Martinez is convinced the 20-year-old would be mentally ready if called upon for Brazil, although he has again warned against the dangers of overburdening him with expectation.

Independent

It is destroying lives, families and communities, and overburdening our NHS.

Independent

Since 1973 the price of energy has risen dramatically, aggravating inflation, overburdening the poor, hindering new investments, increasing unemployment.

The New Yorker

Far from overburdening the one per cent, he would be content to take a few more scraps from their tables.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "overburdening", consider the specific type of burden being imposed (e.g., financial, emotional, physical) to ensure the word accurately reflects the situation. For example, instead of saying "The system is overburdening", specify what aspect of the system is experiencing the burden.

Common error

Avoid using "overburdening" as a general synonym for 'difficult'. While a difficult task might be challenging, "overburdening" specifically implies exceeding a reasonable capacity or limit. Ensure that the subject is truly being excessively burdened, not just facing a tough situation.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "overburdening" is as a present participle, often used as part of a continuous verb tense or as a gerund functioning as a noun. As Ludwig AI highlights, it describes the action of imposing an excessive load or strain on something or someone.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Formal & Business

17%

Science

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "overburdening" functions primarily as a present participle, indicating the action of imposing an excessive burden. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in various contexts. Its usage spans across news, formal business settings, and scientific discussions, indicating a neutral register. The phrase effectively conveys concern or criticism about situations where excessive pressure or responsibility is placed on entities. While alternatives like "overloading" and "straining" exist, "overburdening" distinctly emphasizes the imposition of a heavy, often unsustainable, load. As Ludwig's examples demonstrate, it's crucial to consider the specific context and type of burden when employing this term to ensure accuracy and relevance. Remember to avoid generalizing its meaning to simply 'difficult', reserving it for situations of true excess.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

overloading

Implies exceeding a safe or functional limit, especially with physical objects or systems.

weighing down

Suggests a heavy burden that impedes movement or progress.

taxing

Implies a heavy demand on resources or energy, often to the point of exhaustion.

straining

Focuses on the pressure and potential damage caused by excessive force or demand.

encumbering

Highlights the hindering effect of something burdensome.

overextending

Suggests stretching resources or abilities beyond a sustainable limit.

oppressing

Implies a sense of being weighed down by something heavy, either physically or emotionally.

crushing

Emphasizes the overwhelming and potentially destructive nature of a burden.

saddling

Implies the imposition of a responsibility or task that is unwanted or difficult.

overwhelming

Highlights the feeling of being completely submerged or defeated by a task or responsibility.

FAQs

How can I use "overburdening" in a sentence?

You can use "overburdening" to describe something that places excessive strain or responsibility on someone or something. For instance: "The new regulations are "overburdening" small businesses", or "The constant demands of the job are "overburdening" the employees".

What are some alternatives to "overburdening"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "overloading", "straining", or "overwhelming".

Is it correct to say "overburdening with"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. You can say something is "overburdening someone with" a specific task or responsibility, for example, "The manager is "overburdening the team with" extra work".

What's the difference between "overburdening" and "challenging"?

"Overburdening" implies placing an excessive load or strain, potentially leading to negative consequences, while "challenging" simply means difficult or demanding but doesn't necessarily imply an unsustainable burden. Something can be challenging without being "overburdening".