Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective onerous contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of onerous are burdensome, exacting, and oppressive. While all these words mean "imposing hardship," onerous stresses being laborious and heavy especially because distasteful.

the onerous task of cleaning up the mess

In what contexts can burdensome take the place of onerous?

The synonyms burdensome and onerous are sometimes interchangeable, but burdensome suggests causing mental as well as physical strain.

burdensome responsibilities

Where would exacting be a reasonable alternative to onerous?

While the synonyms exacting and onerous are close in meaning, exacting implies rigor or sternness rather than tyranny or injustice in the demands made or in the one demanding.

an exacting employer

When might oppressive be a better fit than onerous?

In some situations, the words oppressive and onerous are roughly equivalent. However, 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 onerous To the degree that the United States and others have an interest in balancing Chinese power, India expects their support without having to make any onerous compromises to secure such assistance. Ashley J. Tellis, Foreign Affairs, 17 June 2025 That places an onerous burden on Henson, doing her considerable best trying to sustain a role whose Job-like travails crank the distress level to 11 too soon. Dennis Harvey, Variety, 6 June 2025 Such onerous requirements for something as basic as food could amount to war crimes, Grant said, and could even lead to accusations that organizations like GHF are complicit. Matt Bradley, NBC news, 11 June 2025 This area will definitely result in the collapse of some treasuries in the future, whereby onerous terms will force companies to sell and/or interest rates will become too costly to sustain during a bear market. Alexander S. Blume, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for onerous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for onerous
Adjective
  • Even these young players already have major tournament experience — a huge strength given their tough group.
    Megan Feringa, New York Times, 28 June 2025
  • Nor is anything that tough necessary to prevent chronic illness.
    Carolyn Rosenblatt, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • As such, piloting an FPV drone is a completely different, entirely more challenging kettle of fish than piloting a standard camera drone.
    Sam Kieldsen, Wired News, 27 June 2025
  • All of these factors combine to make AI adoption incredibly challenging, expensive and time-consuming.
    Dave Friend, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • Come spring, the Ranger III carries everything from outhouses and diesel fuel for the generators to construction supplies to repair whatever damage Mother Nature did to facilities over the harsh winter.
    Diana Lambdin Meyer, USA Today, 28 June 2025
  • The United States and Europe must finally sever all economic ties with Russia (e.g., nuclear partnerships) and impose harsher sanctions on Russia and secondary sanctions so that China and others face consequences for their support of the war.
    Laura Thornton, Twin Cities, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • This moderately difficult, half-mile trail through the Mission Hills Open Space, is located across from Pioneer Park.
    Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 June 2025
  • Following the loss of their family home, the couple was surrounded by the love and support of friends and family who stepped up to help them during this difficult time.
    Clea Haran, Parents, 23 June 2025
Adjective
  • For those still experiencing the oppressive heat, here are some tips for how to find your own bit of relief.
    Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 27 June 2025
  • But what is a heat dome, and why does the phenomenon bring oppressive heat with it?
    Denise Chow, NBC news, 26 June 2025
Adjective
  • Further stymying manufacturing’s renaissance is that plant work isn’t just dirty and physically demanding – albeit less than in prior generations – but also relatively low-paying with limited career prospects.
    Ryan Craig, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
  • But the plaintiffs in the case and the Biden administration said the appeals court was wrong to apply that standard and should have instead analyzed it under the most demanding level, strict scrutiny, because the law impedes adults' access to speech protected by the Constitution.
    June 27, CBS News, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • Pritzker’s speech, which occurred as national Democrats were largely leaderless in countering and criticizing Trump’s early chaotic presidential moves, aimed to fill the vacuum and garnered significant attention by offering a searing response to the president for a national audience.
    Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 24 June 2025
  • And first baseman Colby Thorndyke comes in with a searing swing.
    Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 21 June 2025
Adjective
  • 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

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Cite this Entry

“Onerous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/onerous. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.

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