What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
unburden
Example
She unburdened herself to her therapist, revealing all her deepest fears and anxieties. [unburdened: past tense]
Example
He felt a sense of relief after unburdening his worries to his best friend. [unburdening: gerund or present participle]
relieve
Example
The medication helped relieve her headache within minutes. [relieve: verb]
Example
He was relieved of his duties after working overtime for several weeks. [relieved: past participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Relieve is more commonly used than unburden in everyday language. Relieve is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while unburden is less common and refers to a specific act of sharing or delegating a burden.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between unburden and relieve?
Both unburden and relieve can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but relieve is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels.
