Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Bearing a physically heavy weight or load: Describes something or someone carrying a substantial physical burden.
   • Heavily burdened with work, cares, or responsibilities: Describes a state of being overwhelmed by non-physical burdens such as duties, worries, or stress.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:
  • The donkey was loaded down with supplies for the journey.
  • She felt loaded down with guilt after the argument.
  • The manager is loaded down with administrative tasks this week.

Advanced Usage

• "loaded down with": This is the standard prepositional phrase used to specify the nature of the burden.
  • The shelves were loaded down with old books.
  • He arrived at the meeting loaded down with paperwork.

Variants and Related Words

• Weighed down: Very similar in meaning, emphasizing the feeling of being pressed down by a weight or burden.
  • She was weighed down by sorrow.
• Burdened: Often used interchangeably, though it can sound slightly more formal.
  • The company is burdened with debt.
• Overburdened: Implies an excessive, often unsustainable, level of burden.
  • The overburdened healthcare system is struggling to cope.

Synonyms

• Encumbered: Hindered or weighed down by something.
• Laden: Heavily loaded or weighted.
• Oppressed: Burdened mentally or physically, often by something unjust or harsh.

Related Phrases

• Bowed down: Often used figuratively to suggest being bent or subdued by troubles or responsibilities.
  • He was bowed down with worry.
• Heavy-laden: A more literary synonym, directly meaning carrying a heavy load.
  • Come to me, all who are weary and heavy-laden.

Adjective

1. bearing a physically heavy weight or load
   • tree limbs burdened with ice
   • a heavy-laden cart
   • loaded down with packages
2. heavily burdened with work or cares
   • bowed down with troubles
   • found himself loaded down with responsibilities
   • overburdened social workers
   • weighed down with cares