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
Like Johnson, the senior senator from New York has tried to put the onus for preventing a government shutdown on his colleagues in the other party.
—
Erin Doherty, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2025
The onus is on you to demonstrate your personal ROI on the development.
—Vince Molinaro, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
However, the onus may be falling on employees financially, as 56 percent admitted to paying out of their own pockets for more powerful AI tools at work.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
Will unionized city workers be asked to make sacrifices to help balance the budget or will Johnson and fellow progressives put most of the onus on taxpayers?
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 26 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for onus
Erin Doherty, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2025
The onus is on you to demonstrate your personal ROI on the development.
—Vince Molinaro, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
However, the onus may be falling on employees financially, as 56 percent admitted to paying out of their own pockets for more powerful AI tools at work.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
Will unionized city workers be asked to make sacrifices to help balance the budget or will Johnson and fellow progressives put most of the onus on taxpayers?
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 26 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for onus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for onus
Noun
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Gently rub it onto the stain with a soft cloth, always moving in the direction of the grain, before rinsing and drying thoroughly.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Sep. 2025
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And the stain-resistant fabric is all about durability in the long haul.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Jimmy Kimmel addressed the shooting death of Charlie Kirk on his ABC late night show on Thursday, this time calling out Donald Trump‘s casting of blame on the rhetoric of the left.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
12 Sep. 2025
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The Kremlin, meanwhile, has also cast blame on Europe for creating obstacles to peace.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Once released, many encounter stigma from employers, landlords, and even their communities, which fosters rejection and shame.—
Walter Pavlo,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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Dozens of commenters on Reddit talk about seeking out care for minors, but most USA TODAY spoke with declined to go on the record for fear of stigma.—
Rachel Hale,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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That feeling of guilt, in other words, can be better described as fear of missing out.—
Arpon Basu,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
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Whether tackling working-parent guilt or the challenges of caring for a newborn, some of the most popular video games are telling stories that tap into contemporary anxieties about parenting.—
G Kirilloff,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The taint of it all has melted away.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
7 Sep. 2025
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The taint is caused when a chemical compound, 2,4,6-Trichloroanisole (TCA), interacts with bacteria or fungi in the wine bottle’s cork.—
Jeremy Harlan,
CNN Money,
16 July 2025
Noun
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Pretreat any stains with a stain remover of choice and blot with a dry white cloth to remove as much stain prior to washing.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
12 Sep. 2025
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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
Noun
-
There is no shame in a nonlinear path, no imperfection in a winding career.—
Barbara Wittmann,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
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Sometimes, when patients and doctors shame insurers online, denials get overturned.—
Tribune News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Onus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/onus. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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