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 At first glance, this practice may seem more burdensome than beneficial. Caelan McMichael, Allure, 7 Oct. 2025 Gallagher was concerned that the new study’s exposure time wouldn’t be enough to note any response, but asking for more than that might have been burdensome to the participants. Meghie Rodrigues, Scientific American, 7 Oct. 2025 This approach could also help delay the need for hormone therapy, which can have burdensome side effects. Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2025 No one wants burdensome processes to stand in the way of reducing wildfire damage. Tony Cheng, Space.com, 24 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for burdensome
Recent Examples of Synonyms for burdensome
Adjective
  • After a summer of oppressive heat, October is when New York City hits its stride.
    Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 18 Oct. 2025
  • Raducanu had her blood pressure taken during the match, which was played in oppressive heat and humidity, before retiring down 6-1, 4-1.
    Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The stalemate over funding in Washington comes at a challenging time for the more than 40 million Americans carrying education debt.
    Annie Nova, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2025
  • According to construction manager John Kearns, the oceans swells became too challenging, moving the barge too much for the crane to operate safely.
    Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • According to the woman, her parents’ reasoning for denying her requests was rooted in a harsh lesson about independence.
    Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 26 Oct. 2025
  • Instead of buying special cleaners or reaching for harsh chemicals to clean around your home, look to your medicine cabinet for a solution.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • One of the world’s most persistent waste problems, plastics are durable and difficult to recycle.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 27 Oct. 2025
  • But grass is difficult to digest for the mammal.
    Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Whether or not Takaichi's administration is as tough on immigration issues as her campaign rhetoric suggests, some observers warn that failing to actively invest in and integrate foreign nationals into society will have lasting harm on Asia’s second-largest economy.
    Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Without a consolidation of that vote in the final stretch, Mamdani appears tough to beat.
    New York Times, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • As the founder and CEO of Shondaland – a media empire behind hits like Scandal, Inventing Anna Bridgerton and more – Rhimes balances intense storytelling with the equally demanding role of being a mother of three.
    Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
  • Thank you for your demanding, lyrical, and sensual body of work, and for your fidelity to the light itself.
    Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Its lighter, more delicate texture is best suited to baking, poaching, or searing.
    Rachael Zimlich, Verywell Health, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Racking up enthusiastic reviews, Dave’s Hot Chicken has made a searing entry into the Boise market.
    Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • For tens of thousands of Louisville households, energy bills are eating up an onerous portion of income, according to a new analysis from the Metropolitan Housing Coalition and the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance.
    Connor Giffin, Louisville Courier Journal, 22 Oct. 2025
  • After finishing as a luxury tax team in each of the past two seasons, the Heat wants to stay out of the luxury tax this season in order 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, 19 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Burdensome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/burdensome. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.

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