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
So after Florida clinched its playoff spot, coach Paul Maurice took the onus upon himself to rest players as the regular season came to an end.
—
Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 18 June 2025
That’s because placing your feet further apart puts more of the onus on your glutes and other lower-body muscles to complete the motion, Dr. Betiku explains, whereas a narrow squat drums up more quad engagement.
—Christa Sgobba, SELF, 4 June 2025
After firing Brandon Hyde, the onus falls on the Orioles' players to determine their success and the front office to chart a path forward.
—Matt Weyrich, Baltimore Sun, 18 May 2025
Switzerland played with a cavalier swagger, as if the onus of putting on a show wasn’t an obligation but a freedom.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for onus
Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 18 June 2025
That’s because placing your feet further apart puts more of the onus on your glutes and other lower-body muscles to complete the motion, Dr. Betiku explains, whereas a narrow squat drums up more quad engagement.
—Christa Sgobba, SELF, 4 June 2025
After firing Brandon Hyde, the onus falls on the Orioles' players to determine their success and the front office to chart a path forward.
—Matt Weyrich, Baltimore Sun, 18 May 2025
Switzerland played with a cavalier swagger, as if the onus of putting on a show wasn’t an obligation but a freedom.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for onus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for onus
Noun
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Adding in a few drops of dish soap to the solution can help lift the stains and water spots for spotless windows.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
12 July 2025
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Original price: $94.99 A Bissel Little Green cleaner tackles spills and pet stains while also removing pet hair, dander and dust from your furniture and carpets.—
Christopher Murray
may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom.,
FOXNews.com,
10 July 2025
Noun
-
It could be argued that the question was more about accountability than blame.—
John C. Moritz,
Austin American Statesman,
17 July 2025
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Aspirational Luxury Falls In 2025, the luxury market is looking down the barrel at its first major slowdown in 15 years, excepting the Covid years, and BCG puts much of the blame on brands’ overemphasizing the aspirational consumer segment.—
Pamela N. Danziger,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Noun
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That disconnect is often attributed to stigma, limited access, and cost — problems Apple is now attempting to address by integrating hearing assistance into mainstream, albeit also expensive, hardware.—
Anisha Sircar,
Forbes.com,
16 July 2025
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There has been a shift in recent years in terms of top talent’s willingness to show face in Saudi as the stigma of doing so has dissipated over time.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
14 July 2025
Noun
-
There's a lot of guilt … a ton of fear, but there's also deep gratitude.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 July 2025
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Wood sent to prison after violating probation A Jan. 1, 2010, incident — five months after his initial probation ended — led to an admission of guilt by Wood.—
Jose R. Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
12 July 2025
Noun
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Some argued that, given the presumptive unethical taint of such collections, human remains should be buried or otherwise respectfully disposed of.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
23 June 2025
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That realization tends to color behavior, and taints the findings.—
Abhimanyu Ghoshal,
New Atlas,
17 June 2025
Noun
-
Wipe the area with a cloth dampened with cold water, then blot with a fresh sponge.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 July 2025
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This blot on our state suggests the need for a constitutional amendment to make the office safely independent of the governor.—
Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 June 2025
Noun
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That is a shame, as many website builders these days offer image editors.—
Jordan Minor,
PC Magazine,
18 July 2025
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The woman immediately puts her hands over her eyes in apparent shame and turns away, while the man quickly drops down to get out of the camera’s view.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
17 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Onus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/onus. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.
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