as in obstacle
something that makes movement or progress difficult
without the encumbrance of a heavy backpack, I could sprint along the trail
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Recent Examples of encumbrance
The narrative spun by Johnson and his allies was that the country’s natural exuberance had been stifled for half a century by bureaucrats in Brussels and that freed from these encumbrances, the union would flourish.
—
Foreign Affairs, 5 July 2024
Meanwhile, many of the same people were evicted from their houses as landowners used the crisis to clear off these human encumbrances and free their fields for more profitable pasturage.
—Fintan O'Toole, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
At closing, Seller shall cause the then applicable mortgages to be released as an encumbrance against the Property and may use Buyer’s closing proceeds for such purpose....
—Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 2 Mar. 2025
Having a semblance of moderated AI regulations and laws that are flexible and not crushing is potentially worth considering, but the inherent nature of any such encumbrances is that they will be overplayed and shut down AI innovation.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for encumbrance
Foreign Affairs, 5 July 2024
Meanwhile, many of the same people were evicted from their houses as landowners used the crisis to clear off these human encumbrances and free their fields for more profitable pasturage.
—Fintan O'Toole, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
At closing, Seller shall cause the then applicable mortgages to be released as an encumbrance against the Property and may use Buyer’s closing proceeds for such purpose....
—Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 2 Mar. 2025
Having a semblance of moderated AI regulations and laws that are flexible and not crushing is potentially worth considering, but the inherent nature of any such encumbrances is that they will be overplayed and shut down AI innovation.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for encumbrance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for encumbrance
Noun
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The Times spoke to both sides, as well as multiple experts to better understand the high-stakes litigation, which faces obstacles but could shake up California’s home insurance industry.—
Laurence Darmiento,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2025
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Kennedy’s announcement does not broadly address healthy adults, but under the new FDA framework, healthy adults who wish to receive the fall COVID-19 vaccine will likely face obstacles.—
Libby Richards,
The Conversation,
29 May 2025
Noun
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Distribution: The Lingering Weak Link For all its strengths, Catalan animation still faces significant hurdles in distribution, especially at home.—
Jamie Lang,
Variety,
6 June 2025
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Diagnosis Delays Hurt Women’s Outcomes Even before a clinical trial is an option, women face significant hurdles in getting a diagnosis.—
Geri Stengel,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
Noun
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Additionally, 24% of providers in Colorado reported incidents of obstruction over those two years, and 18% experienced threats.—
Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton,
Denver Post,
22 May 2025
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Then, on Wednesday, Jan. 15, Cobb County prosecutor Sonya Allen charged Smith with felonies of obstruction of officers and terroristic threats, according to court documents.—
Esther Kang,
People.com,
21 May 2025
Noun
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The press had assembled to watch Earhart soar, and instead witnessed an embarrassment.—
Laurie Gwen Shapiro,
New Yorker,
2 June 2025
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King, whose chapter represents Treasury employees in the D.C. area, accused the national union of just hoping the internal problem goes away, and instead the issue is creating an embarrassment.—
Erin Mansfield,
USA Today,
29 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Encumbrance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/encumbrance. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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