Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective burdensome contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of burdensome are exacting, onerous, and oppressive. While all these words mean "imposing hardship," burdensome suggests causing mental as well as physical strain.

burdensome responsibilities

Where would exacting be a reasonable alternative to burdensome?

The words exacting and burdensome are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, exacting implies rigor or sternness rather than tyranny or injustice in the demands made or in the one demanding.

an exacting employer

When can onerous be used instead of burdensome?

The words onerous and burdensome can be used in similar contexts, but onerous stresses being laborious and heavy especially because distasteful.

the onerous task of cleaning up the mess

When could oppressive be used to replace burdensome?

While the synonyms oppressive and burdensome are close in meaning, oppressive implies extreme harshness or severity in what is imposed.

the oppressive tyranny of a police state

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of burdensome The lawsuit also says the action decimated essential programs and pushed burdensome costs onto states. Arkansas Online, 2 July 2025 Miller and his fellow travelers suggest that this is all a drag on the economy, a burdensome expense. Jim Newton, Mercury News, 27 June 2025 Prioritize solutions that feel empowering, not burdensome. Miles Ward, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025 Doctors complain the process is burdensome and it's often used to delay or deny medically necessary medical care for patients. Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 24 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for burdensome
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burdensome
Adjective
  • Since seizing control of Afghanistan in August 2021, the group has implemented a string of oppressive measures against women and girls, even cracking down on the sound of women’s voices in public.
    Catherine Nicholls, CNN Money, 8 July 2025
  • Others reject the portrayal of federal actions as oppressive, suggesting deployments like those in Los Angeles prioritize national security and immigration enforcement.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2025
Adjective
  • The producer said getting his hands on an original copy of the Carter song on LP proved challenging, and expensive, signaling a cult following for such music.
    Miles Socha, Footwear News, 9 July 2025
  • Gap Easy Trousers Finding summer work pants that are both breathable and stylish can be challenging, but these petite Easy Trousers from Gap fit the bill perfectly.
    Melony Forcier, Travel + Leisure, 9 July 2025
Adjective
  • The mask fully blocks out the harsh cabin lighting and that inevitable sunrise glow before landing.
    Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 10 July 2025
  • Before Getting Started When cleaning your oven, try to avoid using harsh oven cleaners or using the self-cleaning feature.
    Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 10 July 2025
Adjective
  • James is playing the final year of his contract at $52.6 million, which is a very difficult number for teams to pay.
    Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 July 2025
  • Our models and expertise can sniff out the broad parameters, but the precise location and timing of moisture plumes, training (quasi-stationary rain cells), and forcing mechanism can be difficult.
    Marshall Shepherd, Forbes.com, 5 July 2025
Adjective
  • Morton, 43, may take that advice under serious consideration, mentioning how tough the fans – and even fellow cast members – have been on her following this past season’s cast trip to Grenada.
    John Lawson, Essence, 9 July 2025
  • But after rookie third baseman Ronny Mauricio made an exceptionally tough double play to end a two-on, one-out threat in the bottom of the eighth, there was no way the Mets were losing.
    Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 9 July 2025
Adjective
  • These jobs are highly demanding, but they are considered part-time under the city charter.
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 8 July 2025
  • Once upon a time, the leadership style of a college coach was simple: intense, demanding, rigid, focused on detail and motivating with more stick than carrot.
    Rustin Dodd, New York Times, 8 July 2025
Adjective
  • Football is certainly another, which is why rapper Kendrick Lamar’s willingness to hold a mirror to America during his Super Bowl halftime performance was so searing in its power.
    Andrea Williams, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
  • Netflix continues to expand its reality TV universe, with The Ultimatum franchise returning for another searing test of love and commitment.
    Allison DeGrushe Published, EW.com, 2 July 2025
Adjective
  • Madueke is a good Premier League winger who, at the very least, could lighten the onerous minutes load on Saka and maybe even work alongside him, depending on how Arteta decides to align things.
    Art de Roché, New York Times, 10 July 2025
  • This is important to avoid the onerous repeater tax that’s triggered when a team crosses the luxury tax threshold in four straight seasons or four times during a five-season period.
    Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 1 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Burdensome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burdensome. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.

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