Laden vs. Loaded: What's the Difference?
By Aimie Carlson || Updated on May 20, 2024
"Laden" describes being heavily loaded or burdened, often with an implied weight or burden, while "loaded" simply means filled or equipped with a load.
Key Differences
"Laden" refers to being heavily loaded or weighed down, often with a sense of burden or heaviness. This term is commonly used to describe situations where the load is substantial, affecting the movement or state of the object or person. "Loaded," on the other hand, means filled or equipped with a load but without the same implication of heaviness or burden. It is a more straightforward term indicating that something has been filled to capacity or is carrying something.
"Laden" often conveys a more poetic or descriptive tone, emphasizing the weight or burden carried. For instance, "laden with sorrow" implies a deep emotional weight. "Loaded" is more utilitarian, used in everyday contexts to describe the state of carrying a load, such as "loaded with groceries."
While both terms can be used interchangeably in some contexts, "laden" is typically reserved for more formal or descriptive uses, whereas "loaded" is more common in everyday language and technical contexts.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Heavily loaded or burdened
Filled or equipped with a load
Connotation
Implies heaviness or burden
Neutral, simply indicates carrying a load
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Usage Context
Formal, descriptive, or poetic
Everyday, utilitarian, and technical
Emotional Weight
Often conveys a sense of burden
Does not imply emotional weight
Example
"The ship was laden with cargo."
"The truck is loaded with supplies."
Laden and Loaded Definitions
Laden
Heavily loaded or burdened.
The tree was laden with apples.
Loaded
Having additional features or accessories.
The car comes fully loaded with the latest technology.
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Laden
Carrying a heavy load, often implying difficulty.
She walked with a basket laden with flowers.
Loaded
Carrying or containing a substantial amount of something.
The gun was loaded with bullets.
Laden
Filled with something, emphasizing the weight or quantity.
The table was laden with food.
Loaded
Informally, wealthy or well-off.
He is loaded with cash.
Laden
Emotionally burdened or weighed down.
He was laden with guilt.
Loaded
Carrying a load.
Laden
Descriptive of something heavily filled or covered.
The clouds were laden with rain.
Loaded
Equipped with many accessories or features
Bought a fully loaded minivan.
Laden
A past participle of lade.
Loaded
Having ammunition in the firing chamber or magazine. Used of a firearm
A loaded gun.
Laden
Weighed down with a load; heavy
"the warmish air, laden with the rains of those thousands of miles of western sea" (Hilaire Belloc).
Loaded
Unbalanced because of added weight. Used of dice.
Laden
Oppressed; burdened
Laden with grief.
Loaded
Having great meaning, seriousness, or implication
He asked the loaded question if they should take one car or two.
Laden
Weighed down with a load, burdened.
Loaded
(Slang) Drunk or intoxicated.
Laden
Heavy.
His comments were laden with deeper meaning.
Loaded
(Slang) Having a great deal of money; rich.
Laden
Oppressed.
Loaded
Simple past tense and past participle of load
Laden
(chemistry) In the form of an adsorbate or adduct.
Once laden it is easy to regenerate the adsorbent and retrieve the adsorbed species as a gas.
Loaded
Burdened by some heavy load; packed.
Let's leave the TV; the car is loaded already.
Laden
Past participle of lade
Loaded
(of a projectile weapon) Having a live round of ammunition in the chamber.
No funny business; this heater's loaded!
Laden
Loaded; freighted; burdened; as, a laden vessel; a laden heart.
Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity.
A ship laden with gold.
Loaded
(colloquial) Possessing great wealth.
He sold his business a couple of years ago and is just loaded.
Laden
Remove with or as if with a ladle;
Ladle the water out of the bowl
Loaded
(slang) Drunk.
By the end of the evening, the guests in the club were really loaded.
Laden
Fill or place a load on;
Load a car
Load the truck with hay
Loaded
(baseball) Pertaining to a situation where there is a runner at each of the three bases.
It's bottom of the ninth, the bases are loaded and there are two outs.
Laden
Filled with a great quantity;
A tray loaded with dishes
Table laden with food
`ladened' is not current usage
Loaded
Of a die or dice: weighted asymmetrically, and so biased to produce predictable throws.
He was playing with loaded dice and won a fortune.
Laden
Burdened psychologically or mentally;
Laden with grief
Oppressed by a sense of failure
Loaded
(of a question) Designed to produce a predictable answer, or to lay a trap.
That interviewer is tricky; he asks loaded questions.
Loaded
(of a word or phrase) Having strong connotations that colour the literal meaning and are likely to provoke an emotional response. Sometimes used loosely to describe a word that simply has many different meanings.
"Ignorant" is a loaded word, often implying lack of intelligence rather than just lack of knowledge.
Loaded
(of an item offered for sale, especially an automobile) Equipped with numerous options.
She went all out; her new car is loaded.
Loaded
Covered with a topping or toppings.
Loaded fries
Loaded potato wedges
Loaded
Weighted with lead or similar.
A loaded cane or whip
Loaded
Containing as much or as many as is possible; - of containers, vehicles, trays, etc.; as, a tray loaded with dishes
Loaded
Containing a shell or an explosive charge ready for firing; - of firearms. Opposite of unloaded.
Loaded
Charged with associative significance and often meant to mislead or influence; - of statements or questions; as, a loaded question.
Loaded
Having an abundant supply of money or possessions of value; as, She was not merely rich but loaded.
Loaded
Very drunk.
Loaded
Filled with a great quantity;
A tray loaded with dishes
Table laden with food
`ladened' is not current usage
Loaded
(of weapons) charged with ammunition;
A loaded gun
Loaded
(of statements or questions) charged with associative significance and often meant to mislead or influence;
A loaded question
Loaded
Having an abundant supply of money or possessions of value;
An affluent banker
A speculator flush with cash
Not merely rich but loaded
Moneyed aristocrats
Wealthy corporations
Loaded
Very drunk
Loaded
Filled or equipped with a load.
The truck is loaded with furniture.
Loaded
Fully charged or prepared.
The program is loaded and ready to use.
FAQs
What does "loaded" mean?
"Loaded" means filled or equipped with a load, indicating that something is carrying or contains a load.
Can "loaded" imply wealth?
Yes, informally, "loaded" can mean wealthy or well-off.
Is "laden" more formal than "loaded"?
Yes, "laden" is often used in more formal, descriptive, or poetic contexts.
Does "laden" imply emotional weight?
Yes, "laden" can imply emotional weight or burden, such as being "laden with sorrow."
Can "loaded" be used for digital contexts?
Yes, "loaded" can describe something being fully charged or ready, such as a program being loaded.
Is "laden" used in everyday language?
"Laden" is less common in everyday language and is more often used in formal or descriptive contexts.
Can "laden" describe a positive situation?
Yes, "laden" can describe positive situations, such as a table laden with delicious food.
What does "laden" mean?
"Laden" means heavily loaded or burdened, often implying a sense of weight or difficulty.
Is "laden" used in technical contexts?
"Laden" is less common in technical contexts compared to "loaded."
Does "loaded" imply readiness?
Yes, "loaded" can imply that something is fully prepared or ready for use.
Does "loaded" always imply heaviness?
No, "loaded" does not necessarily imply heaviness, just that something is filled or carrying a load.
Can "loaded" be used to describe a weapon?
Yes, "loaded" can describe a weapon that is filled with ammunition.
Can "loaded" refer to additional features?
Yes, "loaded" can describe something that comes with additional features or accessories.
Is "laden" used to describe vehicles?
Yes, "laden" can describe vehicles carrying heavy loads, such as a ship laden with cargo.
Does "loaded" have any informal meanings?
Yes, informally, "loaded" can mean wealthy or well-off.
Can "laden" be used metaphorically?
Yes, "laden" can be used metaphorically to describe being burdened with emotions or responsibilities.
Is "loaded" more versatile than "laden"?
Yes, "loaded" is more versatile and commonly used in various contexts, including technical, informal, and everyday language.
Can "laden" be used for non-physical burdens?
Yes, "laden" can describe non-physical burdens, such as being "laden with guilt."
Is "loaded" used in computing?
Yes, "loaded" is commonly used in computing to describe programs or files that are fully loaded and ready for use.
Can "laden" describe something physically heavy?
Yes, "laden" often describes something physically heavy or carrying a substantial load.
About Author
Written by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
