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Definition of onerous

onerous

/ˈoʊnərəs/
on · er · ous
Adverb:onerously
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onerous Lexical Profile

onerous Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Involving an amount of effort and difficulty that is oppressively burdensome (of a task, duty, or responsibility).

Example

"The committee found the new reporting requirements too onerous for small businesses to manage."

2

Involving obligations or responsibilities that outweigh the advantages (in law, of a contract, lease, or property).

Example

"The liquidator disclaimed the onerous lease because the maintenance obligations far exceeded the value of the premises."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for onerous

• Nearby Words

one
onega
oneness
onerous
oneself
onesie
onetime

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the late 14th century from Old French onereus, from Latin onerosus ("burdensome, heavy"), derived from onus (stem oner-), meaning "load" or "burden."

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Onerous. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/onerous
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