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

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

The pocket-sized UV flashlight can detect what the naked eye can’t, including dry urine stains, bed bugs, scorpions, and more.

— Aly Walansky, Travel + Leisure, 22 Sep. 2026
Were the stains considered evidence that he had been ordered not to touch?

— Elvira Navarro, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of stain

Noun

Quarterbacks often get too much credit and blame, and there will forever be a debate over how much their win-loss records as a starter should be weighed compared to accuracy, touchdown passes and avoiding interceptions.

— Bob Ferrante, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Sep. 2026
Several other Nike shoes in recent years have been criticized for coming in heavy, such as the Pegasus Premium and Vomero Premium, with the blame largely being laid on Air Zoom.

— Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of blame

Noun

Notably, while readers shared their experiences, few were willing to be quoted on record, suggesting a stigma surrounding the use of these drugs despite their popularity.

— Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 16 Sep. 2026
Some say that's because stigma still surrounds mental illness.

— Nicole Russell, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of stigma

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

Season these ingredients 30 to 60 minutes before cooking, then drain or blot off excess water and proceed as directed on page 196.

— ABC News, ABC News, 18 Sep. 2026
Once the stain is gone, blot again with a clean damp cloth to remove any soap residue and allow the upholstery to air-dry completely.

— Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of blot

Noun

But please don’t expect everyone else to hang their heads in shame when looking at the heritage of this nation.

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 20 Sep. 2026
The Wright State University student, who was studying neuroscience, struggled with the shame and bullying that came with wearing an ankle monitor, according to his family.

— Lauren Costantino September 19, Miami Herald, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of shame

Browse Nearby Words

on top of

onus

onuses

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Onus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/onus. Accessed 24 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of onus

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

pundit

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes