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.

Nearby words

oneirophrenia, oneiroscopy, oneness, oneonta, oner, onerous, oneself, onesie, onetti, onf, onfr.

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 Forms

onerously, 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