1
as in tough
difficult to endure
had the onerous and stressful job of notifying the families of soldiers killed in action
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in challenging
requiring much time, effort, or careful attention
building the scale model of the frigate was an onerous task
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 onerous
Those would provide safe and appealing crossings both for people in cars and on foot or bikes in spots where getting across now is onerous and dangerous.
—
Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 23 May 2025
By the way, the work requirements, Margaret, is not some onerous, burdensome thing.
—/ Cbs News, CBS News, 25 May 2025
There’s a difference between paying the tax, which is costly only for ownership, and crossing the first apron, which makes trades more difficult and comes with other onerous restrictions, including in the buyout market.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 19 May 2025
Moreover, the Tax Foundation this year found that the compliance costs associated with the estate tax are just as onerous as the tax itself.
—James Carter, Boston Herald, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for onerous
Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 23 May 2025
By the way, the work requirements, Margaret, is not some onerous, burdensome thing.
—/ Cbs News, CBS News, 25 May 2025
There’s a difference between paying the tax, which is costly only for ownership, and crossing the first apron, which makes trades more difficult and comes with other onerous restrictions, including in the buyout market.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 19 May 2025
Moreover, the Tax Foundation this year found that the compliance costs associated with the estate tax are just as onerous as the tax itself.
—James Carter, Boston Herald, 9 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for onerous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for onerous
Adjective
-
The vote took place against an increasingly violent backlash to the Trump administration's tough immigration policies.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 June 2025
-
In Mind For startups, achieving more with less can be tough.—
John Hall,
Forbes.com,
15 June 2025
Adjective
-
Oakmont is a notoriously challenging course, a venue that has already seen big-name players like defending champion Bryson DeChambeau fail to make it through to the last two rounds.—
Patrick Snell,
CNN Money,
14 June 2025
-
Preparing to shoot the live-action footage was also challenging.—
Kambole Campbell,
Variety,
14 June 2025
Adjective
-
Some of them include washing with harsh shampoos, particularly those with sulfates or alcohol; overusing scalp scrubs or clarifying products; and not washing frequently enough.—
Jamie Wilson,
Glamour,
16 June 2025
-
Unlike many traditional sunscreens that contain oxybenzone and octinoxate—two common culprits behind coral bleaching—reef-safe formulas skip the harsh stuff in favor of ocean-friendly alternatives that tend to also be gentler on sensitive skin.—
Iman Balagam,
Vogue,
16 June 2025
Adjective
-
No matter how sweet, the little crocodile grows bigger and more difficult to care for.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
10 June 2025
-
Protein powder can be difficult to digest Protein powder contains especially high concentrations of protein.—
MISAKI KAWATSU,
Vogue,
10 June 2025
Adjective
-
More than 60 years ago, my parents fled Cuba for the United States, seeking freedom from an oppressive regime that dictated what businesses produced and how products were priced.—
Carlos Cubelo,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 June 2025
-
The film follows a 40-year-old widowed nurse named Mahnaz, who is struggling with a rebellious son and other complications in a heavily oppressive patriarchal context.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
22 May 2025
Adjective
-
All have long-standing reputations and a superb stock that will meet the requirements of the most demanding connoisseur.—
Felipe Schrieberg,
Forbes.com,
15 June 2025
-
That becomes especially useful when dealing with fluctuating frame rates on more demanding games.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
11 June 2025
Adjective
-
Caminero, who was hitless in his previous 17 at-bats, led off with a searing homer to left-center, hit at 109.2 mph and carrying 409 feet.—
Marc Topkin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 June 2025
-
Dad can whip up incredible meals with cookware that offers the searing power of stainless steel and the easy cleanup of nonstick.—
Nora Colomer
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,
6 June 2025
Adjective
-
So, setting the Waymo driverless EVs on fire created an extremely burdensome situation for local authorities.—
Charles Singh,
USA Today,
12 June 2025
-
That rule is now on the chopping block, one of many that President Trump’s EPA argues is costly and burdensome for industry.—
Melina Walling,
Los Angeles Times,
6 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Onerous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/onerous. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share