What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
burden
Example
The financial burden of student loans can be overwhelming. [burden: noun]
Example
She felt burdened by the weight of her family's expectations. [burdened: past tense verb]
hindrance
Example
The heavy traffic was a hindrance to reaching the airport on time. [hindrance: noun]
Example
His lack of experience proved to be a hindrance in getting the job. [hindrance: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Burden is more commonly used than hindrance in everyday language. Burden is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while hindrance is less common and tends to be used in more specific situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between burden and hindrance?
Both burden and hindrance can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, burden is more commonly used and has a slightly more formal tone compared to hindrance, which is less frequently used.