ONUS Synonyms: 76 Similar and Opposite Words

onus

noun

ˈō-nəs

Definition of onus

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in blame

responsibility for wrongdoing or failure he perpetually tries to shift the onus for any mistakes onto other team members

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 onus That now puts the onus on Meta to authenticate the age of its users and protect its customers. — Diane Brady, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026 The lack of help doesn’t take the onus off Stroud or absolve him of turning the ball over seven times in the playoffs last season, but he’s been fighting an uphill battle. — Ted Nguyen, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026 While Western pharmaceutical firms are racing to develop a vaccine — some of which are close to trials — none are expected to be widely available soon, putting the onus for containing the disease on underfunded DRC authorities. — Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 26 Aug. 2026 The onus should remain on utilities to pay, said Rex Frazier, the federation's president. — ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for onus

Recent Examples of Synonyms for onus

Noun

Police found apparent blood stains in several areas of Machado's car, which investigators said Sierra used to drive the victims from the mall to the home.

— Sergio Candido, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026
It’s designed for high-traffic areas like the living room or dining room, thanks to its durable low-pile construction and stain-resistant surface.

— Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of stain

Noun

Despite growing evidence supporting safety and efficacy, and the lifting of the warning, a lingering stigma is keeping women from life-saving care.

— Theara Coleman, TheWeek, 24 Sep. 2026
Probably not his community of freedmen, anxious to escape the stigma of an enslavement that had ended less than ten years prior.

— Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of stigma

Noun

In the ad, Yang unloads on his therapist, played by comedienne Ana Gasteyer, about his guilt over gatekeeping a really fantastic beauty product from the group chat.

— Irene Richardson, InStyle, 25 Sep. 2026
Unfortunately, this announcement means The Beast in Me, much like the characters in The Beast in Me, carries a dark guilt at its core.

— Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of guilt

Noun

Even though Thiam denied knowledge of it and was cleared of involvement, the taint of the scandal led to his ouster.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Aug. 2026
On top of worrying about making great wine, European producers will now have to mitigate against smoke taint, save their grapes from frost, and consider how to future-proof vineyards in a rapidly changing climate.

— Kate Dingwall, Bon Appetit Magazine, 31 July 2026

Definition of taint

Noun

Remove the wings from the refrigerator and blot away any visible moisture with paper towels.

— Monti Carlo, AJC.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Act+Acre Microfiber Hair Towel Act+Acre’s popular flat towel comes with instructions for a specific technique —blot and squeeze, no rubbing.

— Valeriya Chupinina, Vogue, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of blot

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on top of

onus

onuses

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Style

“Onus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/onus. Accessed 1 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of onus

noun

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