Overburden

To overburden means to place an excessive or overwhelming load, responsibility, or strain on someone or something. This can be physical, emotional, financial, or intellectual, and it can hinder productivity, cause stress, or lead to failure. The term implies a situation where the existing capacity or resources are insufficient to manage the imposed weight or challenge effectively. The consequences of being overburdened often involve diminished performance, exhaustion, and potential damage or breakdown of the subject experiencing the burden. It also emphasizes the imposition of a strain on the individual, system, or resources involved. Often it means that the added weight is unmanageable.

Overburden meaning with examples

• The small business owner was **overburdened** with paperwork and administrative tasks, leaving them with little time for core business functions and leading to late nights. The constant stress and lack of support made it difficult to manage the company, with an unmanageable work load of constant paperwork and employee management.
• Rescue workers were **overburdened** by the sheer volume of calls after the natural disaster. Resources were stretched thin as the requests for help poured in. They struggled to reach everyone in a timely manner, highlighting the need for better disaster preparedness and communication.
• The new software system **overburdened** the company's aging servers, causing frequent crashes and slowdowns. IT staff struggled to keep the system running smoothly, leading to frustrations and lost productivity throughout the whole enterprise.
• The student felt **overburdened** by the number of extracurricular activities they had signed up for. Trying to balance sports, clubs, and volunteering with academics led to exhaustion and a decline in grades. They ultimately had to drop some activities to find balance.
• Medical staff in the pandemic were **overburdened** with patients, leading to burnout and compromised patient care. The surge in hospitalizations caused a crisis, as resources were depleted and staff worked endless shifts in very difficult circumstances.