encumber

Meaning

1. (transitive) To load down something with a burden.
2. (transitive) To restrict or block something with a hindrance or impediment.
3. (transitive) To burden with a legal claim or other obligation.

Synonyms

hinder

hamper

impede

burden

inconvenience

cumber

block

trammel

annoy

bother

disturb

embarrass

hassle

trouble

irritate

drag out

hobble

clog

restrain

incumber

prevent

charge

constrain

tax

overload

encumbrance

fill

halter

hamstring

handicap

implicated

inhibit

intercept

interfere with

interrupt

in the way

involve

limit

load

localise

localize

lumber

narrow down

number

🔢

obstruct

overburden

perturb

pester

prejudice

prohibit

prolong

responsibilities

restrict

retard

saddle

set back

squeeze

stunt

thwart

trig

underfoot

lay the blame on

overweight

weight

annoy by obstructing

balk

bar

block up

border

cap

clamp down

complicate

confine

congest

corner

cross

crowd

defer

delay

delimit

delimitate

demarcate

detain

deter

determine

disadvantage

disarrange

disarray

draw in

Translations

estorbar

hinderen

encombrer

belemmeren

behindern

storen

verstoren

gêner

beengen

stören

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ɪnˈkʌmbə(ɹ)/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: encombren

In summary

From Middle English encombren, from Old French encombrer, from en- + combrer (“to hinder”); see cumber. By surface analysis, en- + cumber.