1. to burden or hamper; to weigh down with something unwanted or troublesome
Usage: often used with 'with'; formal or literary
2. to place a legal claim or obligation on property or assets
Usage: legal or financial context

Examples

• The heavy backpack incumbered the hiker on the steep mountain trail.
• Excessive debt incumbers the company's ability to invest in new projects.
• The property was incumbered by a mortgage and several liens.
• Old traditions incumber progress in some organizations.
• She refused to be incumbered by unnecessary possessions.
• The estate was incumbered with various claims from creditors.