What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
burdening
Example
She felt burdened with the responsibility of taking care of her younger siblings. [burdened: past participle]
Example
The manager kept burdening her with additional projects, making it difficult for her to manage her workload. [burdening: present participle]
overburdening
Example
The teacher was overburdened with grading papers from multiple classes. [overburdened: past participle]
Example
The company's unrealistic expectations were overburdening the employees, leading to burnout and decreased productivity. [overburdening: present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Burdening is more commonly used in everyday language, as it covers a wider range of contexts. On the other hand, overburdening is less common and tends to be used in specific situations where there is a need to emphasize the excessive nature of the load.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between burdening and overburdening?
Both burdening and overburdening can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, overburdening may carry a slightly more formal tone due to its stronger negative connotation.
