onerous

adjective

ˈä-nə-rəs How to pronounce onerous (audio)
Definition of onerousnext
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

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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

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective onerous contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of onerous are burdensome, exacting, and oppressive. While all these words mean "imposing hardship," onerous stresses being laborious and heavy especially because distasteful.

the onerous task of cleaning up the mess

In what contexts can burdensome take the place of onerous?

The synonyms burdensome and onerous are sometimes interchangeable, but burdensome suggests causing mental as well as physical strain.

burdensome responsibilities

Where would exacting be a reasonable alternative to onerous?

While the synonyms exacting and onerous are close in meaning, exacting implies rigor or sternness rather than tyranny or injustice in the demands made or in the one demanding.

an exacting employer

When might oppressive be a better fit than onerous?

In some situations, the words oppressive and onerous are roughly equivalent. However, oppressive implies extreme harshness or severity in what is imposed.

the oppressive tyranny of a police state

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 Last year, Pritzker signed an onerous bill sweetening firefighter and police pensions that will cost Chicagoans tens of millions of dollars more annually without extra help from the state. —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026 Some small-scale developers found the costs pushed by code too onerous, driving up prices for homes. —Mark Dee march 12, Idaho Statesman, 12 Mar. 2026 Even starting conversations sometimes felt onerous for Yasin. —James Folta, Literary Hub, 11 Mar. 2026 San Jose’s budget next year could also include more efforts to spur homeownership and housing production, as the Bay Area still ranks among the most difficult places to build due to onerous regulations and high costs. —Devan Patel, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for onerous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for onerous
  1. tough
  2. challenging
  3. harsh
  4. difficult
  5. oppressive
  6. demanding
  7. searing
  8. burdensome
Adjective
  • Middle linebacker is one of the toughest positions to play in today’s game, but Smith has the mental makeup to run the front of this defense.
    — Cedric Golden, Austin American Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026
  • The Senate map will likely get tougher for Democrats in future elections.
    — W. James Antle III, The Washington Examiner, 20 Mar. 2026
Definition of tough
Adjective
  • In his 12 seasons, the Mustangs have played a challenging independent schedule featuring many Class 3A and 4A programs.
    — Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 19 Mar. 2026
  • This challenging late-season stretch comes with the Heat trying to avoid the play-in tournament for the first time in four years.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 18 Mar. 2026
Definition of challenging
Adjective
  • Residents describe the smell as a harsh chemical paint smell, similar to the smell in a nail salon.
    — Jessica Riley, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
  • Hardliners appeared to consolidate power in Iran as a result of US and Israeli air strikes, with experts fearing restrictions on dissent could be even harsher.
    — Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 19 Mar. 2026
Definition of harsh
Adjective
  • Kansas played the Blue Devils close and made life difficult for Duke freshman Cameron Boozer, largely thanks to Flory Bidunga’s defense.
    — Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 16 Mar. 2026
  • Parents in attendance shared appreciation for seeing teens connect with older adults, especially during a stage of life when meaningful conversation at home can sometimes feel more difficult.
    — News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026
Definition of difficult
Adjective
  • Joel, played by Pedro Pascal, a hardened survivor, is hired to smuggle Ellie (Bella Ramsey), a 14-year-old girl, out of an oppressive quarantine zone.
    — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 16 Mar. 2026
  • McElya described this as an oppressive framework that barred representation of LGBTQ+ identities.
    — Elijah Polance, Hartford Courant, 14 Mar. 2026
Definition of oppressive
Adjective
  • Airlines are struggling to keep up with costs, and customers are becoming more demanding.
    — Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 17 Mar. 2026
  • Exercise and demanding activities should be done in the early morning and evening.
    — Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2026
Definition of demanding
Adjective
  • There are no national – or local – media outlets setting up for live broadcasts on this searing hot afternoon.
    — Celina Tebor, CNN Money, 19 Mar. 2026
  • No kitchen is complete without a skillet, and this well-sized model is perfect for searing, stir-frying, sauteing and more.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
Definition of searing
Adjective
  • The ruling deals a burdensome but potentially temporary blow to the DOJ’s investigation.
    — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 13 Mar. 2026
  • Those costs are particularly burdensome on large school districts located in lower-income cities and towns that are currently subject to the earliest deadlines, Cronin said.
    — John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 12 Mar. 2026
Definition of burdensome

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one-on-one
onerous
ones
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Cite this Entry

“Onerous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/onerous. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on onerous

Nglish: Translation of onerous for Spanish Speakers

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