agobio

overwhelming burden

noun ah-GOH-byoh Rare

Also means

stress

Usage Note

Agobio denotes a suffocating sense of being overwhelmed — by workload, heat, anxiety, or social pressure. Estar agobiado (to be overwhelmed/stressed out) is one of the most common Spanish colloquialisms for burnout. The verb agobiar means to overwhelm or oppress someone. Unlike estrés (a loanword), agobio feels more physical — a weight pressing down.

Examples

"El agobio del trabajo le impedía dormir bien."

Natural Translation

The stress of work was preventing him from sleeping well.

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