Synonyms of unburden

unburden

verb

ˌən-ˈbər-dᵊn 

1

as in to unload

to empty or rid of cargo

the crew was frantically unburdening the ship in an attempt to save it

Synonyms & Similar Words

• unload
• disburden
• unpack
• evacuate
• discharge
• disencumber
• relieve
• off-load
• unlade
• lighten
• empty
• free
• vacate
• void
• clear

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• load
• pack
• fill
• charge
• cram
• heap
• stuff
• jam
• jam-pack

2

as in to relieve

to set (a person or thing) free of something that encumbers

a generous friend unburdened her of that particular financial worry

Synonyms & Similar Words

• relieve
• rid
• free
• clear
• disburden
• divest
• disencumber
• liberate
• emancipate
• loosen
• unfetter
• unchain
• rescue
• enfranchise
• redeem
• discharge
• extricate
• loose
• disentangle
• unbind
• uncage
• spring
• release
• manumit
• disengage
• deliver
• bail (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• burden
• encumber
• saddle
• restrain
• hamper
• subject
• weight (down)
• bog (down)
• fetter
• shackle
• weigh down

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of unburden

Success would unburden the House of Republican control — and create a bulwark against any effort to trample on D.C. self-determination. —Colbert I. King, Washington Post, 19 July 2024

Rather than delude themselves into thinking that modern tools had unburdened them of that old-world obligation, Chung and co. opted to go much the same route. —David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 10 July 2024

Twice Biden has attempted to achieve his campaign pledge of forgiving student loan debt in an effort to unburden a generation of students who took on massive student loan debt at a young age. —Daniel Desrochers, Kansas City Star, 25 June 2024

Lipa has been clear about how a good pop song can help a person to get lost in a moment, to briefly but truly unburden herself. —Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 3 May 2024