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.

As one of Jamaica's largest buyers of the fruit, for Gray's Pepper the shortages have been onerous.

From BBC • May 31, 2026

Of course, they’ll probably make it even more onerous so they can feel smart?

From Los Angeles Times • May 27, 2026

But China faced frequent complaints that its work was sometimes shoddy and its loan terms onerous.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 23, 2026

A swap for cost basis planning looks even more advantageous when considering onerous tax rules for trust assets.

From Barron's • May 16, 2026

Since there was still only the one telephone in town, her duties were not onerous.

From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly

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