onus

noun

ˈō-nəs How to pronounce onus (audio)
Definition of onusnext
1
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
2
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 onus will be on Newsom’s successor, most likely Xavier Becerra, to become the new schools sheriff in town. — Dan Walters, Mercury News, 14 July 2026 The onus should be on lawmakers to protect children instead, the judge said. — Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 14 July 2026 Building around Kon and Brandon Peterson was reluctant to tab anyone on the roster as the next face of the franchise, unwilling to put the onus on either of tier two rising stars Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller. — Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 11 July 2026 The onus is on the audience to get on board with that flipped dynamic — but doing so is rewarding. — Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for onus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for onus
  1. stain
  2. blame
  3. stigma
  4. guilt
  5. taint
  6. blot
  7. shame
Noun
  • There are few actual notes to his melodies, just smudges and stains.
    — Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 30 July 2026
  • But none of those items had blood stains, which would have suggested a stabbing.
    — Yana Johnson, NBC news, 29 July 2026
Definition of stain
Noun
  • Ultimately, there is plenty of blame to go around in a roller coaster season for the Phillies.
    — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Signs of frustration are everywhere on social media, with much of the blame being directed at the government.
    — Youkyung Lee, Fortune, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of blame
Noun
  • How neighborhoods can reclaim their parks Finch and Thrasher met with Walker in December to offer their thoughts on how to erase the stigma.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The stigma of unemployment is compounded by the guilt of knowing that your parents had to drain their savings or mortgage their land to pay for the steep fees demanded by colleges and coaching centers.
    — Asim Ali, Time, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of stigma
Noun
  • No decision has been made by a jury or judge as to my client's guilt.
    — Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 31 July 2026
  • Yet director Christopher Nolan, far more than Homer, goes on to plumb Odysseus’ existential collapse, shame and guilt.
    — Amy S. Badura-Brack, The Conversation, 30 July 2026
Definition of guilt
Noun
  • The prosecutor’s subjective good faith does not cure the retaliatory taint.
    — Antonio Pequeño IV, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
  • There’s a purity here, the course free from the taint of bureaucracy governing so much of the academy.
    — Peter Wayne Moe, Longreads, 26 Mar. 2026
Definition of taint
Noun
  • This will likely go down as the lowest point – the blot on what has been a surprisingly bright summer.
    — Mark Sappenfield, Christian Science Monitor, 7 July 2026
  • The only blot on an otherwise solid opening week for the World Cup expansion loyalists.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 7 July 2026
Definition of blot
Noun
  • Portugal are stacked with world-class talent in midfield, and there is no shame in losing out on a spot to Vitinha, Bernardo Silva, Joao Neves or Bruno Fernandes.
    — Elias Burke, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026
  • The idea with the channels seems to be that making the secret, private shame of scrolling into a collaborative activity will give it a new place in the home.
    — Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of shame

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Cite this Entry

“Onus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/onus. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of onus for Spanish Speakers

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