encumber

American  

[en-kuhm-ber] / ɛnˈkʌm bər /

Sometimes incumber

verb (used with object)

1. to impede or hinder; hamper.

   Red tape encumbers all our attempts at action.

2. to block up or fill with what is obstructive or superfluous.

   a mind encumbered with trivial and useless information.

3. to burden or weigh down.

   She was encumbered with a suitcase and several packages.

4. to burden with obligations, debt, etc.

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encumber British  

/ ɪnˈkʌmbə /

verb

1. to hinder or impede; make difficult; hamper

   encumbered with parcels after going shopping at Christmas

   his stupidity encumbers his efforts to learn

2. to fill with superfluous or useless matter

3. to burden with debts, obligations, etc

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Other Word Forms

• encumberingly adverb
• unencumbered adjective

Etymology

Origin of encumber

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English encombren, encombre, encomber, from Anglo-French, Middle French encombrer, equivalent to en- prefix + -combrer, verbal derivative of combre “dam, weir,” from early Medieval Latin combrus, from Gaulish comberos (unrecorded) “confluence, bringing together” (compare Quimper, in Brittany, from Breton Kemper ); en- ¹, com-, bear ¹

Explanation

To encumber is to weigh someone or something down with a physical or psychological burden. You may find yourself encumbered by a heavy backpack or with anxieties. Either way, it's a heavy load to bear! You can also use encumber to describe something that restricts you in some way: you're so encumbered by your homework load you can’t go to the concert Saturday night. The root, cumber, has several shades of meaning — including "to burden" and "to be overwhelmed."

Example Sentences

The next sequels, I suspect, will give them more time for that, but may also encumber them with more baggage.

From New York Times • Dec. 14, 2022

"It was a time to really get to know one another with no outside influences to encumber you," Duffy told the outlet.

From Fox News • Jul. 3, 2021

Since 2011, Fukushima has been saddled with the staggering burden of the meltdown’s aftermath that, despite government PR, will encumber and stigmatise its citizens for at least several decades.

From The Guardian • Mar. 16, 2018

It would be even more difficult in the District, which pays from current appropriations and cannot encumber future appropriations under current legislation.

From Washington Post • Dec. 16, 2016

A shocking number of phrases that drop easily from the fingers are bloated with words that encumber the reader without conveying any content.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker

Related Words

• burden
• overburden