What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
overemploy
Example
The company decided to overemploy staff to meet the high demand. [overemploy: verb]
Example
I tend to overemploy myself with too many projects at once. [overemploy: reflexive verb]
overburden
Example
The teacher was overburdened with grading papers and preparing lesson plans. [overburden: past participle]
Example
The bridge collapsed due to being overburdened with heavy traffic. [overburden: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Overburden is more commonly used than overemploy in everyday language. Overburden is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while overemploy is less common and refers specifically to excessive hiring or resource use.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between overemploy and overburden?
Both overemploy and overburden are formal words that are typically used in professional or academic settings.
