Synonyms for encumbrance
Most common
drawback impediment hindrance hinderance weight burden debt liability
Synonyms by meaning
Noun
1. Hindrance
hindrance, impediment, hinderance, trouble, interference, drawback, hitch, clog, preventive, malefit, obstacle
Other
Definitions
- n. 1
Something that encumbers; a burden that must be carried.
- n. 2
The state or condition of being encumbered.
Related words
- Other spellings
- incumbrance
Forms
- Plural
- encumbrances → hindrances, impediments, hinderances, troubles…
Choose the right word
That which rests upon one as a burden is an encumbrance. An encumbrance is always what one carries with him; an obstacle or an obstruction is always without.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- drawback Being overweight is a drawback in this sport.
- impediment Impatience is a definite impediment to success.
- hindrance Those new rules were more of a hindrance than a help.
- weight These beams will not carry the weight of the roof.
- burden The boy was fed up with being treated as a burden.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| encumbrance | falling | |
| drawback | steady | |
| impediment | steady | |
| hindrance | steady | |
| hinderance | falling | |
| weight | falling |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 4 letters
- debt1, load1, clog1, onus2
- 5 letters
- hitch1
- 6 letters
- weight1, burden2
- 7 letters
- trouble2, incubus, malefit
- 8 letters
- obstacle3, drawback2
- 9 letters
- liability5, hindrance2, albatross3
- 10 letters
- preventive3, impediment4, hinderance
- 12 letters
- interference4, encumberment
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (onus2 = 2 syllables).