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

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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 The fundamental shift toward 401(k)s places the onus on employees to decide how much to save and to plot out their investment strategy. — Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026 The onus should remain on utilities to pay, said Rex Frazier, the federation's president. — ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026 The onus will fall not only on people experiencing homelessness, but also taxpayers whose money will go to finding solutions that get people off the streets. — Laura Horne, Charlotte Observer, 17 Aug. 2026 Such a change — which Kessler said FDA has the authority to do — would put the onus on food makers to prove refined carbs and sweeteners like high-fructose corn syrup are OK for human consumption. — Isabella Cueto, STAT, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for onus

Recent Examples of Synonyms for onus

Noun

The latter track takes overt inspiration from Sofia Coppola’s 2006 film Marie Antoinette, as Jepsen beckons her love to engage in life’s vices with her, like marring bedsheets with fruit stains and dashing nude through the garden.

— Jaeden Pinder, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2026
Homeowners can check that attic and soffit vents are clear and look for signs of moisture, water stains, mold, or visible frost during winter.

— Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of stain

Noun

Perhaps the stigma that now exists around using ChatGPT to text a friend or message on a dating app will fade in the years ahead.

— Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2026
As the case remains in the headlines, so will postpartum mental illness, but will Clancy’s story ultimately encourage women to report disturbing symptoms, or simply deepen the terror and stigma around them?

— Eren Orbey, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of stigma

Noun

Many 9/11 first responders alive today feel as Sanchez does, more preoccupied with their survivor’s guilt than their own ailments.

— Lila Dominus, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2026
They are bound together not only by their shared grief, but also by the unspoken guilt and blame that Lux and Ella can only hope to expiate through each other.

— David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 10 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

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“Onus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/onus. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of onus

noun

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