English Reference
Verb

saddled

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈsædəɫd/ UK /sˈædəld/ sad·dled

v.to force someone to take on a difficult or unpleasant task that they did not ask for. It can also mean to put a saddle on an animal like a horse.

v.to impose an unwanted or burdensome responsibility on someone; to equip an animal with a saddle. Often used in the passive voice to describe a person's situation.


SIMPLE

I am saddled with a lot of debt.

CONTEXTUAL

The manager saddled the new intern with the most difficult project to see if she could handle the pressure.

COMPLEX

After the merger, the department was saddled with outdated equipment that made it difficult to compete with more modern rivals in the industry.

Meg’s iconoclastic music career and drumming skills are finally receiving their due, in no small part because younger fans and musicians aren’t saddled by the same sexist cultural baggage.

The Guardian· 24 Aug 2026
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated