Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Involving a great deal of effort, trouble, or difficulty; burdensome: Describes a task, duty, or responsibility that is very difficult to carry out or fulfill, often causing worry or hardship.
   • Legally imposing or involving an obligation that is more burdensome than beneficial: In law, describes a contract or condition that places a disproportionately heavy obligation on one party.

Usage

The word "onerous" is a formal adjective used to describe tasks, duties, responsibilities, or conditions that are extremely difficult, demanding, or oppressive. It emphasizes the weight and hardship involved. It is often used in legal, business, and formal contexts.

Examples

• General Usage:

  • The onerous task of caring for a sick relative can be emotionally draining.
  • The new regulations placed an onerous burden on small businesses.
  • She found the administrative paperwork to be particularly onerous.

• Legal/Formal Context:

  • The contract contained several onerous clauses that favored the larger corporation.
  • The court deemed the lease agreement to be onerous and unfair to the tenant.

Advanced Usage

• "onerous conditions": Conditions attached to an agreement that are excessively demanding or unfair.

  • The loan came with onerous conditions, including a very high interest rate.

• "onerous responsibility": A duty that is excessively heavy or difficult to manage.

  • He felt the onerous responsibility of being the family's sole provider.

Variants and Related Words

• Onerously (adverb): In a burdensome or difficult manner.

  • The debt was onerously repaid over twenty years.

• Onerousness (noun): The state or quality of being burdensome.

  • The onerousness of the job led to high staff turnover.

Synonyms

• Burdensome: Imposing a heavy load.
• Arduous: Involving strenuous effort.
• Taxing: Physically or mentally demanding.
• Oppressive: Unjustly inflicting hardship.
• Laborious: Requiring considerable work and time.

Antonyms

• Easy: Achieved without great effort.
• Light: Not heavy or serious.
• Undemanding: Requiring little effort or care.
• Effortless: Requiring no physical or mental exertion.

Idioms and Phrases

• An onerous cross to bear: A very difficult burden or responsibility one must endure.
  • Managing the family's debts was an onerous cross to bear for the young heir.

Adjective

1. not easily borne; wearing; I only had to greet the guests"
   • the burdensome task of preparing the income tax return
   • my duties weren't onerous
   • a taxing schedule