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
Relevance
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
This is consistent with investigative reporting by numerous media outlets and federal and state government reports that have squarely placed the onus for event safety crises on organizers, operators and contractors - not performers.
—
Ilana Kaplan, PEOPLE, 21 Jan. 2026
The onus is on employers to upskill their workforce to keep pace with AI adoption.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 21 Jan. 2026
The onus is on us to keep coyotes away from our homes.
—Lisa Bloch, Mercury News, 20 Jan. 2026
But 55% put the onus on federal or state governments, and 45% on local governments.
—Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for onus
Ilana Kaplan, PEOPLE, 21 Jan. 2026
The onus is on employers to upskill their workforce to keep pace with AI adoption.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 21 Jan. 2026
The onus is on us to keep coyotes away from our homes.
—Lisa Bloch, Mercury News, 20 Jan. 2026
But 55% put the onus on federal or state governments, and 45% on local governments.
—Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for onus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for onus
Noun
-
How much of a stain should that be for a quarterback playing a team game?—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
28 Jan. 2026
-
King says the technology can only be used with a ceramic material that's heat-resistant, scratch-resistant, and stain-resistant, like Cosentino's Dekton line.—
Helena Madden,
Martha Stewart,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
When a book under performs, the cover often takes some blame.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Feb. 2026
-
The sophomore was the Bruins’ best offensive player on Saturday, but couldn’t escape the blame.—
Aaron Heisen,
Daily News,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Survivors grapple with shame and social stigma while facing limited access to medical care, scarce mental-health counseling and a severe shortage of emergency shelters.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
28 Jan. 2026
-
No such stigma against Chinese products exists among many British consumers.—
Brendan Murray,
Bloomberg,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The shame, the guilt and the fear of the other is timeless.—
Rafa Sales Ross,
Variety,
1 Feb. 2026
-
The bank admitted fault in 13 out of the 101 cases tracked by the group, with the remaining 88 cases settled without an admission of guilt.—
Lily Mae Lazarus,
Fortune,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The taint of being part of the cheating 2017 Astros has worn off over the years, and Cubs fans are banging the drum for Bregman’s arrival, excited to have an offensive upgrade from Matt Shaw, who can still learn a lot from playing multiple positions and watching from the bench.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Jan. 2026
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And, from this week’s issue, Nicola Twilley’s reporting on another lingering effect of the wildfires—smoke taint that is ruining grapes and threatening California’s wine industry.—
Dana Goodyear,
New Yorker,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
For ink and permanent marker stains, blot with a solvent like rubbing alcohol or acetone first.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
26 Jan. 2026
-
If suede gets wet, blot it instantly and use a suede brush and hair dryer to dry it.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Anger, relief, anxiety, numbness, shame—all of these are normal reactions.—
Cynthia Pong,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
-
There’s no shame in a living room dance party.—
Avery Newmark,
AJC.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Onus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/onus. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
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