Encumbrance1. (n.) That which encumbers; a burden which impedes action, or renders it difficult and laborious; a clog; an impediment. See Incumbrance.
2. (n.) Same as Incumbrance.
Thesaurus Entries
affliction, albatross, bale, bitter cup, bitter draft, bitter draught, bitter pill, burden, burden of care, burdening, burthen, cankerworm of care, care, cargo, charge, charging, client, clog, cross, crown of thorns, cumber, cumbrance, curse, deadweight, dependent, difficulty, disadvantage, distress, drag, embarrassment, freight, gall, gall and wormwood, grievance, hamper, handicap, hardship, hindrance, impedance, impediment, impedimenta, imposition, inconvenience, incubus, incumbency, infliction, lading, liability, load, loading, lumber, millstone, obstacle, obstruction, onus, oppression, overload, overtaxing, overweighting, pack, pack of troubles, peck of troubles, penalty, pensionary, pensioner, pressure, protege, public charge, saddling, sea of troubles, sorrow, superincumbency, surcharge, taxing, thorn, trouble, ward, waters of bitterness, weight, white elephant, woe