onerous

[on-er-uhs, oh-ner-] / ˈɒn ər əs, ˈoʊ nər- /

ADJECTIVE

difficult; requiring hard labor

Synonyms

STRONGEST

arduous backbreaking burdensome cumbersome demanding difficult distressing excessive exhausting grueling harsh intolerable laborious oppressive painful rigorous severe strenuous taxing troublesome weighty

WEAK

austere crushing embittering exacting exigent fatiguing formidable galling grave grinding hard headache heavy irksome merciless overpowering overtaxing plodding ponderous pressing responsible serious tiresome tiring toilsome vexatious

Antonyms

STRONGEST

calm easy effortless facile friendly gentle helpful mild nice simple trivial

WEAK

light

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.

He also pointed out the U.S. proposal has less onerous demands and more generous carrots than pre-war positions.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 25, 2026

The new requirements are hardly onerous, but union leaders are in a panic.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 22, 2026

This could include making staff redundant, or negotiating with landlords to lessen the burden of "onerous contracts".

From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026

With generous federal estate-tax exemptions made permanent in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act last year, trusts that were created years ago to shield wealth from onerous federal estate taxes may be obsolete.

From Barron's • Feb. 28, 2026

This apparatus displayed Rutherford’s hallmark simplicity and style, but the procedure was unspeakably onerous.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

onerous

Example Sentences

Related Words