burdensome

adjective

bur·​den·​some ˈbər-dᵊn-səm 

: imposing or constituting a burden : oppressive

burdensome restrictions

Synonyms

• bitter
• brutal
• cruel
• excruciating
• grievous
• grim
• hard
• hardhanded
• harsh
• heavy
• inhuman
• murderous
• onerous
• oppressive
• rough
• rugged
• searing
• severe
• stiff
• tough
• trying

Choose the Right Synonym for burdensome

onerous, burdensome, oppressive, exacting mean imposing hardship.

onerous stresses being laborious and heavy especially because distasteful.

the onerous task of cleaning up the mess

burdensome suggests causing mental as well as physical strain.

burdensome responsibilities

oppressive implies extreme harshness or severity in what is imposed.

the oppressive tyranny of a police state

exacting implies rigor or sternness rather than tyranny or injustice in the demands made or in the one demanding.

an exacting employer

Examples of burdensome in a Sentence

The responsibility has become burdensome.

the burdensome living conditions that the early settlers had to endure

Recent Examples on the Web

East Texas Title Companies is pushing back on the reporting requirement with a lawsuit, claiming the rule is burdensome and unconstitutional. —Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025

California taxpayers may be justifiably focused on California’s burdensome income taxes and, notwithstanding Prop. 13, California is still a high property tax state. —Jon Coupal, Oc Register, 21 Apr. 2025

The bigger factor are complex and burdensome design requirements for affordable housing. —Jason Ward, Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2025

The Endangered Species Act at 50 02:32 Critics of the Endangered Species Act claim the law goes far beyond the initial intent and is overly burdensome. —Kristin Brown, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

burdensome

adjective

bur·​den·​some ˈbərd-ᵊn-səm 

: so heavy or hard to take as to be a burden

burdensomeness noun