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 Reeve, a 17-year head coach in Minnesota with four WNBA titles, placed the onus on WNBA leadership to ensure the league remains an inclusive space while also maintaining safety amid increasingly divisive conversations. — Devon Henderson, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026 Benjamin Gibson, an attorney representing the state, said the onus was on the plaintiffs to prove the ballot summary was defective. — Jim Turner, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026 During negotiations on the billionaire tax, essentially put the onus on Newsom to force unrelated private hospitals and clinics to unionize their employees, the sources said. — Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2026 This puts the onus of protection back on employees and their ability to discern the real from the fake—a vulnerability that no firewall addresses. — Mark Beare, Forbes.com, 23 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
  • While the worst issues were discovered at the Sleep Inn, site visits at the Holiday Inn and Fairfield Inn also revealed water stains, humid laundry facilities and signs of pests.
    — Renee Anderson, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • There’s a pet-stain remover under the sink, which, of course, does nothing.
    — Brandon Follick, New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of stain
Noun
  • Where to lay the blame But researchers warn against blaming the emergence of an economy based on young men’s insecurities on one particular influencer.
    — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Once again, international organizations removed Hamas and their share of the blame for Gaza’s suffering from the conversation, stoking the anti-Israel narrative.
    — Beth Bailey, FOXNews.com, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of blame
Noun
  • The Miami Herald spoke with several shop owners who expressed concern about rising costs but refused to go on the record, many citing the stigma surrounding the religion and misconceptions about practitioners.
    — Delia Sauer, Miami Herald, 15 Aug. 2026
  • When remote work looked like a normal option for everyone, the stigma weakened.
    — Gleb Tsipursky, Washington Post, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of stigma
Noun
  • The woman carried guilt over not being there for him and wanted to forgive herself.
    — Sophia Buonpane, Kansas City Star, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Many Spaniards lived or even committed atrocities in the Civil War, suffering a collective guilt, Ruiz Capillas surmises.
    — John Hopewell, Variety, 12 Aug. 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
Noun
  • If especially juicy, lightly blot with a paper towel to remove excess moisture.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 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
  • Secrecy around taking a GLP-1 can also contribute to shame and stigma about medication.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Shame on Darien and shame on Little League Baseball for allowing a rule to intentionally walk a 12-year-old, not once but a couple of times.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 16 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 20 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of onus for Spanish Speakers

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