burdensome

adjective

bur·​den·​some ˈbər-dᵊn-səm 

: imposing or constituting a burden : oppressive

burdensome restrictions

Synonyms of burdensome

• oppressive
• harsh
• tough
• searing
• hard
• severe
• brutal
• rough
• onerous
• cruel

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

Analysts have cited issues including a funding shortfall, burdensome regulation, a limited and fragmented made-in-EU supply chain and relatively high production costs. —Sam Meredith,christopher Kang, CNBC, 4 Dec. 2025

But providers and patients counter that such requirements are overly burdensome and slow critical testing and treatment. —Tami Luhby, CNN Money, 4 Dec. 2025

Refineries that convert crude oil into gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel must comply with these climate programs as well as other burdensome regulations. —Austin Gae, Oc Register, 3 Dec. 2025

States such as Arizona, Indiana, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas have proposed new barriers to mail-in voting processes—and by extension, to overseas and military voters—through burdensome proof-of-citizenship requirements and narrow residency requirements for voting by mail. —Ellen Gustafson, Time, 26 Nov. 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