serious encumbrance

USAGE SUMMARY

"serious encumbrance" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe a significant burden or hindrance in various contexts, such as legal, financial, or personal situations. Example: "The new regulations posed a serious encumbrance to the company's growth." Alternative expressions include "significant burden" and "major hindrance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The proliferation of patents might prove a serious encumbrance to businesses, just as travellers along the Rhine in medieval Europe were slowed down by having to pay a toll at every castle.James Boyle, a legal scholar at Duke Law School in North Carolina, claims that the current increase in intellectual-property rights represents nothing less than a second "enclosure movement".

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

But a cat that throws up on the bed would be a dangerous encumbrance.

The New York Times

Yaghdan's résumé was an encumbrance.

The New Yorker

An exquisite shot became an encumbrance.

Independent

Sansom's production has one encumbrance.

The Guardian

To Mr. Dover, Mr. Aston was a weighty professional encumbrance.

The New York Times

WASP-dom, an encumbrance to the fully realized emotional life, we have heard.

The New York Times

America would free itself of the encumbrance of formal alliances and multilateral diplomacy.

The Economist

"It's an incredible encumbrance on the operations of the department".

The New Yorker

As Alibhai-Brown remarks "the gowns impede free movement; they are an encumbrance ….

Independent

As gorgeous as it is, the male peacock's tail is a ridiculous encumbrance.

Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair this phrase with abstract concepts like 'bureaucracy' or 'debt' to emphasize their restrictive nature.

Common error

Do not use "serious encumbrance" for minor annoyances. The word implies a significant weight that legitimately impedes function or movement, often in a formal capacity.

Linguistic Context

This phrase acts as a noun phrase composed of an intensifier adjective ("serious") and a formal noun ("encumbrance"). According to Ludwig AI, it typically serves as a subject complement or a direct object in sentences describing systemic or physical burdens.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "serious encumbrance" is a precise and high-level expression used to denote a major burden or obstacle. While the specific exact match appears infrequently in the search results provided, Ludwig analysis shows that the noun 'encumbrance' is a powerful term often used by elite sources to describe everything from legal liabilities to physical traits like a peacock's tail. Ludwig AI confirms that the expression is grammatically correct and carries a formal tone, making it ideal for professional writing where you need to emphasize that a challenge is significantly limiting progress or functionality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significant burden

More common in general contexts to describe a heavy responsibility

major hindrance

Focuses on the act of slowing down progress rather than just being a weight

substantial obstacle

Suggests a specific barrier that must be overcome

heavy liability

Often used in financial or legal contexts to denote a disadvantage

critical impediment

Stronger emphasis on the phrase stopping a process entirely

profound constraint

Used when the burden limits one's range of action or choices

massive drawback

More informal and focuses on the negative aspect of a situation

severe disadvantage

Describes the relative position of weakness caused by the burden

weighty obligation

Specifically refers to a duty or debt that is hard to fulfill

onerous restriction

Suggests the burden is not just heavy but unfairly demanding

FAQs

How do I use "serious encumbrance" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a major disadvantage or burden, for example: "The outdated software proved to be a serious encumbrance to the team's productivity."

What can I say instead of "serious encumbrance"?

You can use alternatives like "<a href="/s/significant+burden" target="_blank" rel="alternative">significant burden", "<a href="/s/major+hindrance" target="_blank" rel="alternative">major hindrance", or "<a href="/s/substantial+obstacle" target="_blank" rel="alternative">substantial obstacle" depending on the context.

Is "serious encumbrance" considered formal English?

Yes, it is a formal and sophisticated phrase frequently found in academic journals, legal documents and high-quality journalism like The Economist.

What is the difference between "serious encumbrance" and a "major hindrance"?

While similar, an encumbrance often implies a constant weight or a legal claim (like a lien), whereas a "<a href="/s/major+hindrance" target="_blank" rel="alternative">major hindrance" focuses specifically on the interference with progress or action.