onerous — involving an amount of effort and difficulty that is oppressively burdensome
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: involving an amount of effort and difficulty that is oppressively burdensome
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈoʊnərəs/
Example Sentences
- Washing dishes by hand for 200 wedding guests proved quite onerous, so we hired a catering service.
- The new tax regulations impose onerous requirements on small businesses.
- Reading my teenage diary became an onerous task when I realized how embarrassing it was.
onerous
ADJECTIVE[/ˈoʊnərəs/]
involving an amount of effort and difficulty that is oppressively burdensome
The onerous tax records piled higher than the clerk himself.
One horrendous burden - that's onerous work!
The onerous climb echoes with sonorous chimes
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Latin 'onerosus' meaning 'burdensome' or 'heavy,' derived from 'onus' meaning 'burden' or 'load.' The word entered English through Old French and has been used since the 14th century to describe something that imposes a heavy obligation or burden.
Breakdown
onus (Latin: burden, load) + -ous (adjective suffix meaning 'full of' or 'characterized by') = onerous (full of burden, burdensome)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“Washing dishes by hand for 200 wedding guests proved quite onerous, so we hired a catering service.”
“The new tax regulations impose onerous requirements on small businesses.”
“Reading my teenage diary became an onerous task when I realized how embarrassing it was.”
“The contract contained onerous clauses that heavily favored the employer.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
Want to master 19,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.