1
as in stain
a mark of guilt or disgrace
hoping to avoid the onus of failure by lowering expectations ahead of time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in blame
responsibility for wrongdoing or failure
he perpetually tries to shift the onus for any mistakes onto other team members
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of onus
The onus remained with the Agency for Health Care Administration where Sheeran worked.
—
Alexandra Glorioso, Miami Herald, 17 Mar. 2026
The Bengals never delivered on that in an impactful fashion, which puts more onus on linebackers coach Mike Hodges and the 2025 draft picks to build off the development shown during the second half of last season.
—Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026
Akiwowo argues that the onus should be on tech companies and lawmakers to address the harms of the manosphere.
—Lucy Morgan, Glamour, 13 Mar. 2026
And then telling the players the onus was now on them to prove the producers right.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for onus
Alexandra Glorioso, Miami Herald, 17 Mar. 2026
The Bengals never delivered on that in an impactful fashion, which puts more onus on linebackers coach Mike Hodges and the 2025 draft picks to build off the development shown during the second half of last season.
—Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026
Akiwowo argues that the onus should be on tech companies and lawmakers to address the harms of the manosphere.
—Lucy Morgan, Glamour, 13 Mar. 2026
And then telling the players the onus was now on them to prove the producers right.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for onus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for onus
Noun
-
Designed with convenience and your busy lifestyle in mind, MY MAGIC CARPET rugs protect floors from scratches, spills and stains.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Our editors tested over a dozen shower cleaners to find the ones that are most effective at removing soap scum and water stains.—
Josh Feldman,
NBC news,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This dynamic, known in counseling circles as partner-blame, is well documented in Christian purity and addiction-recovery literature.—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
29 Mar. 2026
-
When voters worry about their wallets, incumbents usually get the blame.—
Bloomberg Opinion,
Twin Cities,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
For its 310 students and more than 80 children from infants to toddlers, Greenland represents a second chance at school that is free from stigma and, experts say, a model for how young mothers can be reintegrated into education.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Dan Skovronsky, Lilly’s chief scientific and product officer, told USA TODAY that a weight-loss pill also should help people overcome barriers such as stigma about obesity or unwillingness to get a shot.—
Ken Alltucker,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Relieved of their blindfolds, the men now wore heavy rucksacks filled with colored rocks representing their anger (red), guilt and shame (black), and sadness (blue).—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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Ashleigh Stovall described the guilt of having a good day, the confusion of feeling fine, then feeling terrible about giving herself permission to experience anything but sadness.—
Brit McCandless Farmer,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Iran, a war targeting regime change and the destruction of its nuclear capacities — laudable goals — also has the suspicious taint of being all about oil.—
Markos Kounalakis,
Mercury News,
5 Mar. 2026
-
The taint of being part of the cheating 2017 Astros has worn off over the years, and Cubs fans are banging the drum for Bregman’s arrival, excited to have an offensive upgrade from Matt Shaw, who can still learn a lot from playing multiple positions and watching from the bench.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
But the blot on Sacramento State’s basketball resume is the road record.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
5 Mar. 2026
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The left-back has started 123 of the last 125 games and 86 of the last 87, with the blot on his card arriving late last season when manager Oliver Glasner rested key players after Palace won the FA Cup.—
Gregg Evans,
New York Times,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Relieved of their blindfolds, the men now wore heavy rucksacks filled with colored rocks representing their anger (red), guilt and shame (black), and sadness (blue).—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
No matter, this is his first real walk of shame, and the grin on his face is worth a million bucks.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Onus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/onus. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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