onerous

[ on-er-uhs, oh-ner- ]

/ ˈɒn ər əs, ˈoʊ nər- /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR onerous ON THESAURUS.COM

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.

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Nearby words

Origin of onerous

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin onerōsus, equivalent to oner- (stem of onus) burden + -ōsus -ous

SYNONYMS FOR onerous

1. heavy, crushing, grievous; irksome, galling.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR onerous ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

on·er·ous·ly, adverbon·er·ous·ness, o·ne·ros·i·ty

[oh-nuh-ros-i-tee] /ˌoʊ nəˈrɒs ɪ ti/, nounnon·on·er·ous, adjectivenon·on·er·ous·ly, adverb

non·on·er·ous·ness, nounun·on·er·ous, adjectiveun·on·er·ous·ly, adverbun·on·er·ous·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for onerous

The pair had argued, and the assistant ceased performing this most onerous of duties.
A Million Ways to Die in Prison|Daniel Genis|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The demand of being an EU state have been onerous and living conditions have not improved.
In Hands of Hungarian Artist, Jewish Home Movies of the ’30s a Warning of Coming Holocaust|Daniel Genis|October 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Help with onerous conditions is not help so much as benevolent coercion.
America’s Meddlers Are Our Worst Enemies|Stefan Beck|October 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He managed to put these onerous, labor-intensive veggies at the forefront of his restaurant—and found much success.
Rodrigo de la Calle Is Spain’s Vegetable Whisperer|Kara Cutruzzula|March 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The new FSA media requirements, however, will be onerous for freelancers if they are maintained.
Syria’s Media War|Jamie Dettmer|April 4, 2013|DAILY BEAST
He had been busy—the onerous duties of an attaché—and so forth.
Patsy|S. R. Crockett
No longer do I take delight in their disburdenment, for it has become an onerous duty, a wearisome and distasteful task.
Revolution and Other Essays|Jack London
His originally powerful mind is excited to fresh exertion by his onerous and exalted position.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 61, No. 378, April, 1847|Various
His position was an onerous one, for the reputation of the wine was considerable, and it was necessary to maintain it.
A History of Champagne|Henry Vizetelly
For ideas generate duties, knowledge stimulates action, and to act in a world of doubt may well be onerous.
The Continental Monthly, Vol. 6, No. 6, December 1864|Various

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 Formsonerously, adverbonerousness, noun

Word 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

Word Origin and History for onerous

onerous

adj.

late 14c., from Old French onereus, honereus (14c., Modern French onéreux) and directly from Latin onerosus, from onus (genitive oneris) "burden" (see onus).