What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
cumbered
Example
The hiker was cumbered by his heavy backpack. [cumbered: verb]
Example
She felt cumbered by her anxiety and couldn't focus on her work. [cumbered: adjective]
burdened
Example
He was burdened with the responsibility of taking care of his sick mother. [burdened: verb]
Example
She felt burdened by the weight of her past mistakes. [burdened: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Burdened is more commonly used than cumbered in everyday language. Burdened is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while cumbered is less common and refers to a more specific type of burden.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between cumbered and burdened?
Cumbered is typically associated with a more formal tone, while burdened can be used in both formal and informal contexts.