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
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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
During his evening video address on Tuesday, Zelenskyy said the onus for the success of the partial ceasefire is on Moscow.
—
David Brennan, ABC News, 26 Mar. 2025
Arteta sounds like a man who knows what needs to be done — now the onus is on him and the club to do it.
—James McNicholas, New York Times, 10 May 2025
The international community must remain alive to the reality that the onus of escalatory spiral and its ensuing consequences shall squarely lie with India.
—Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025
This type of agile personalization reduces the onus on the user’s plate.
—Mark Halberstein, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for onus
David Brennan, ABC News, 26 Mar. 2025
Arteta sounds like a man who knows what needs to be done — now the onus is on him and the club to do it.
—James McNicholas, New York Times, 10 May 2025
The international community must remain alive to the reality that the onus of escalatory spiral and its ensuing consequences shall squarely lie with India.
—Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025
This type of agile personalization reduces the onus on the user’s plate.
—Mark Halberstein, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for onus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for onus
Noun
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On cross-examination, defense attorney Alan Jackson asked if grass stains could come from someone being dragged.—
Michael Ruiz , Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
13 May 2025
-
The parents told him that the stains started appearing shortly after the town built a communal water pipeline to a warm spring about 5 miles away.—
Angela Palermo,
Idaho Statesman,
12 May 2025
Noun
-
Obviously, none of their former ballclubs have met expectations, but the managers don’t deserve all of the blame for the losing seasons.—
Daniel R. Epstein,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2025
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Dedra's peers were eager to lay all of the blame at her feet.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
EW.com,
15 May 2025
Noun
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While access to mammography, biopsies and modern treatments has become routine in wealthier nations, many women in low-resource settings still face long delays, limited treatment options and stigma around the disease.—
Lisa Falco,
Forbes.com,
19 May 2025
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Leitch risked being a pariah but avoided potential stigma as Rangers retained his services for the rebuild, and commissions south of the border then followed.—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
17 May 2025
Noun
-
That lawsuit was settled within 24 hours for $20 million, with no admission of guilt from Combs.—
Elizabeth Rosner,
People.com,
16 May 2025
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Proposing that the artifacts belong where their makers live now is sensible, but the problem at the heart of Dahomey is its presumption of guilt without resolution or remedy.—
Armond White,
National Review,
16 May 2025
Noun
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Chapter 7 Delaware Bay Water that Americans rely on for drinking and irrigation under threat from taint of saltwater Between New Jersey and Delaware, the river gives way to the Delaware Bay, where the water is salty.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2025
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Bonus: The vast majority of Aussie wines are sealed with screw caps, regardless of price, which equals consistency, longer aging, and zero risk of cork taint.—
Christina Pickard,
Bon Appétit,
5 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
That brings us to that one blot on Wodehouse’s life.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Apr. 2025
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The ink blots of the past 20 years are dried all over Metal Gear Solid Delta.—
Ashley Bardhan,
Rolling Stone,
6 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Not only was this request rejected, but on each occasion that Lee privately visited the police, the media was tipped off in advance, forcing the actor to take a walk of shame past a sea of reporters and cameras ready and poised at the station’s entrance — further feeding the media frenzy.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
21 May 2025
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But how does an actor expose himself to pain and suffering — and shame?—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
20 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Onus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/onus. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
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