This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
onerous
[ on-er-uhs, oh-ner- ]
/ ˈɒn ər əs, ˈoʊ nər- /
Save This Word!
This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
adjective
burdensome, oppressive, or troublesome; causing hardship: onerous duties.
having or involving obligations or responsibilities, especially legal ones, that outweigh the advantages: an onerous agreement.
OTHER WORDS FOR onerous
QUIZ
CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?
There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?
Question 1 of 7
Which sentence is correct?
Origin of onerous
OTHER WORDS FROM onerous
Words nearby onerous
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use onerous in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for onerous
onerous
/ (ˈɒnərəs, ˈəʊ-) /
adjective
laborious or oppressive
law (of a contract, lease, etc) having or involving burdens or obligations that counterbalance or outweigh the advantages
Derived forms of onerous
onerously, adverbonerousness, nounWord Origin for onerous
C14: from Latin onerōsus burdensome, from onus load
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012