overburden

1 of 2

verb

over·​bur·​den ˌō-vər-ˈbər-dᵊn How to pronounce overburden (audio)
overburdened; overburdening; overburdens

transitive verb

: to place an excessive burden on

overburden

2 of 2

noun

over·​bur·​den ˈō-vər-ˌbər-dᵊn How to pronounce overburden (audio)
: material overlying a deposit of useful geologic materials or bedrock

Examples of overburden in a Sentence

Verb She overburdened me with work. Why overburden yourself when people are offering to help?
Recent Examples on the Web
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Verb
Many surrounding communities have successfully implemented similar programs, leading to more diverse housing options without overburdening taxpayers. Naperville Sun, Chicago Tribune, 12 Feb. 2025 All are overworked, because of a long history of overburdening and underpaying a workforce that is mostly seasonal. Jay Balagna, The Mercury News, 23 Jan. 2025
Noun
However, managing stress during those peak moments of overburden is not always intuitive. Jazmine Denise Thompson, Essence, 22 Jan. 2025 The demand-resource mismatches of burnout, the operational drivers, are substantial and must be addressed: clumsy electronic medical records, understaffing, and administrative overburden, among others. Wendy Dean, STAT, 7 June 2023 See all Example Sentences for overburden 

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1532, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1821, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of overburden was in 1532

Dictionary Entries Near overburden

Cite this Entry

“Overburden.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overburden. Accessed 19 Feb. 2025.

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