- an onerous task
- onerous regulations
- an onerous mortgage
- an onerous contract
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The government imposed onerous taxes on imports.
had the onerous and stressful job of notifying the families of soldiers killed in action
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'onerous.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Onerous, which traces back to the Latin onus, meaning "burden," has several synonyms. Like "onerous," "burdensome," "oppressive," and "exacting" all refer to something which imposes a hardship of some kind. "Onerous" stresses a sense of laboriousness and heaviness, especially because something is distasteful ("the onerous task of cleaning up the mess"). "Burdensome" suggests something which causes mental as well as physical strain ("the burdensome responsibilities of being a supervisor"). "Oppressive" implies extreme harshness or severity in what is imposed ("the oppressive tyranny of a police state"). "Exacting" suggests rigor or sternness rather than tyranny or injustice in the demands made or in the one demanding ("an exacting employer who requires great attention to detail").
bitter, brutal, burdensome, cruel, excruciating, grievous, grim, hard, harsh, heavy, inhuman, murderous, oppressive, rough, rugged, searing, severe, stiff, tough, trying;
comfortable, cozy, luxurious, snug;
agreeable, friendly, genial, hospitable, pleasant;
peaceful, relaxing, reposeful, restful;
austere, bleak, comfortless, discomforting, forbidding, inhospitable, spartan, uncomfortable;
agonizing, heartbreaking, heartrending, painful, wretched;
crushing, grinding, overwhelming, wearing;
insufferable, insupportable, intolerable, unbearable, unendurable;
See words that rhyme with onerous Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for onerous Spanish Central: Translation of onerous Nglish: Translation of onerous for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of onerous for Arabic speakers
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