encumber

An encumbrance is something that makes a situation or task more difficult. It's like having an extra weight holding you back.

When we talk about encumbering someone or something, what we usually mean is adding something to their responsibilities or worries. For example, if someone already has a lot of work on their plate and then gets assigned even more tasks, that new workload can be seen as an encumbrance. It's like trying to carry too much weight at once - it makes it harder to move forward. We might also say that debt or financial obligations are an encumbrance for someone struggling to make ends meet. If a company has to deal with a lot of regulations, those rules can be an encumbrance as well.