What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
burdened
Example
She felt burdened by the demands of her job and family. [burdened: adjective]
Example
He was burdened with the responsibility of taking care of his sick parents. [burdened: past participle]
overburdened
Example
The teacher felt overburdened with grading papers and preparing lesson plans. [overburdened: adjective]
Example
The company's employees were overburdened with unrealistic deadlines and excessive workloads. [overburdened: past participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Burdened is more commonly used than overburdened in everyday language. Burdened is a versatile term that can be applied to various situations, while overburdened is less common and specifically highlights an overwhelming amount of burden.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between burdened and overburdened?
Both burdened and overburdened can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, overburdened may sound more formal due to its stronger connotation of excessive load and overwhelm.
