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

The Illinois House of Representatives is considering a bill that would impose new, burdensome regulations on parents who homeschool their children. —James R. Mason, National Review, 5 Apr. 2025

Proponents see the Trump administration's deregulatory agenda as an opportunity push through legislation that would streamline what industry calls burdensome regulations and bureaucracy. —Lee Habeeb, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Apr. 2025

Many industries began to complain about burdensome regulations that were not only costly but also difficult to navigate. —Eric Reicin, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025

Reworking burdensome zoning codes that slow down developments. —Mike D'onofrio, Axios, 24 Mar. 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