burdensome
Americanadjective
-
oppressively heavy; onerous.
-
distressing; troublesome.
-
Nautical. having a full hull form, as a merchant vessel built for capacity rather than speed.
adjective
Other Word Forms
- burdensomely adverb
- burdensomeness noun
- nonburdensome adjective
- nonburdensomely adverb
- nonburdensomeness noun
- unburdensome adjective
Etymology
Origin of burdensome
Explanation
Something that's burdensome is very difficult or tiring. It's better to weed your garden regularly, rather than put it off until it becomes an exhausting, burdensome task. Some summer jobs are easy and relaxing, like your laid-back dog walking business — other jobs are much more burdensome, like babysitting a large family of kids or lifeguarding at a pool where people keep nearly drowning. Something that's a burden, a physical load or a duty that weighs heavily on you, is burdensome. The Proto-Indo-European root means "to bear" or "to carry," and also "to give birth."
Vocabulary lists containing burdensome
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Day-to-day upkeep like mowing the lawn, shoveling snow and even basic housekeeping can become burdensome or unsafe as physical limitations increase.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026
“I reviewed the sections of the IDO pertaining to Safe Outdoor Spaces,” Gil wrote in a subsequent legal document, “and determined that the burdensome regulations would prevent me from doing so.”
From Slate • Mar. 25, 2026
At the same time, it is cutting costs and selling some assets in a bid to reduce its burdensome debt.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026
There are also some tax considerations in going foreign, but nothing too burdensome.
From Barron's • Feb. 12, 2026
His next exploit was to fight and conquer the Minyans, who had been exacting a burdensome tribute from the Thebans.
From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
