onerous
Americanadjective
-
laborious or oppressive
-
law (of a contract, lease, etc) having or involving burdens or obligations that counterbalance or outweigh the advantages
Other Word Forms
- nononerous adjective
- nononerously adverb
- nononerousness noun
- onerosity noun
- onerously adverb
- onerousness noun
- unonerous adjective
- unonerously adverb
- unonerousness noun
Etymology
Origin of onerous
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin onerōsus, equivalent to oner- (stem of onus ) burden + -ōsus -ous
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Residents are criticizing a state law that requires permits and fees for building projects near Joshua trees, saying it’s opaque, confusing and onerous for those who want to improve or even maintain their properties.
From Los Angeles Times
Recovering money after the fact is so much more onerous than intervening while it’s happening.
From MarketWatch
Chemicals is one of the most important sectors in Europe's biggest economy but key industry players complain of high energy costs, onerous EU regulations and fierce foreign competition.
From Barron's
Other reforms include streamlining the process for collective Cabinet agreement of government policy, which are said to involve "onerous" exchanges of letters between departments.
From BBC
He also pointed out the U.S. proposal has less onerous demands and more generous carrots than pre-war positions.
From MarketWatch
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
