onerous
onerous
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "onerous" is:
/ˈɒn.ə.rəs/
Here's a breakdown of the syllables:
on-: /ˈɒn/
/ɒ/ - the vowel sound in "lot" or "hot"
/n/ - the "n" sound
-er-: /ə/
/ə/ - the schwa sound, a very short, unstressed vowel, like the "a" in "about"
-ous: /rəs/
/r/ - the "r" sound
/ə/ - the schwa sound
/s/ - the "s" sound
Word Form Variations
onerous (adjective):
This is the base form of the word, meaning burdensome or oppressive.
onerously (adverb):
This is the adverbial form, used to describe how something is done in an onerous manner.
onerousness (noun):
This is the noun form, referring to the state or quality of being onerous.
Therefore the word form variations are:
adjective: onerous
adverb: onerously
noun: onerousness
It is important to note that "onerous" is an adjective, and therefore does not have plural or singular forms.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Adjective: Onerous
Definition:
Describing a task, duty, or responsibility that is excessively burdensome, difficult, or oppressive, causing significant strain or hardship.
Characterized by a heavy weight of obligation or labor, often to the point of being unpleasant or distressing.
Synonyms:
Burdensome, oppressive, taxing, difficult, laborious, grueling, arduous, heavy, troublesome, demanding.
Antonyms:
Easy, light, effortless, simple, manageable, undemanding, pleasant, agreeable, facile.
Adverb: Onerously
Definition:
In a manner that is burdensome, oppressive, or difficult; with excessive strain or effort.
To perform an action in a way that causes great difficulty.
Synonyms:
Heavily, burdensomely, oppressively, laboriously, arduously, with difficulty, with great effort.
Antonyms:
Easily, lightly, effortlessly, simply, readily, pleasantly.
Noun: Onerousness
Definition:
The state or quality of being burdensome or oppressive; the degree to which something causes hardship or strain.
The degree of difficulty of a task.
Synonyms:
Burdensomeness, oppressiveness, difficulty, hardship, severity, weightiness, strain, trouble.
Antonyms:
Ease, lightness, simplicity, manageability, facility, pleasantness.
Key Considerations:
The core concept of "onerous" revolves around the idea of a heavy burden, whether physical or metaphorical.
The word often implies a sense of unpleasantness or distress associated with the burden.
The word is often used in legal or financial context, to describe contracts, or financial obligations.
Examples of Use
1. Legal and Financial Contexts:
Onerous Contracts:
"An onerous contract is an accounting term that refers to a contract that will cost a company more to fulfill than what the company will receive in1 return." (Investopedia)
This is a very common use of the word, especially in accounting and legal documents. It refers to a contract that creates a financial burden.
Onerous Regulations:
News articles and political discourse frequently discuss "onerous regulations" that businesses find difficult to comply with. This phrase is used to describe laws that impose heavy burdens on those who must follow them.
2. General Public Discourse and News:
Onerous Responsibilities:
People often describe their jobs or caregiving duties as "onerous responsibilities" when they feel overwhelmed by the demands.
Onerous Tax Burdens:
Discussions about taxation often use "onerous" to describe tax rates that are considered excessively high.
Onerous tasks:
People use this term to describe tasks that are very difficult to complete.
3. Literature and Online Publications:
You can find the word "onerous" used in various literature, both fiction and non-fiction, to describe situations that are difficult and burdensome.
Online publications such as newspapers, and online magazines, frequently use the word "onerous" when describing situations that are difficult.
Key Takeaways:
The word "onerous" is most often used in formal settings, like legal and financial documents, and in serious discussions about difficult situations.
It effectively conveys a sense of heaviness and burden.
10 Famous Quotes Using Onerous
"We had assumed an onerous yoke, that of mortal responsibility. Our patients' lives and identities may be in our hands, yet death always wins." (Paul Kalanithi, When Breath Becomes Air)
"The task and responsibility were onerous." (Jane Dunn, ELIZABETH AND MARY: Cousins, Rivals, Queens.)
"They face immense costs and huge risks and the regulations are too onerous."
"The government imposed onerous taxes on imports."
"Recording activity is itself an onerous task."
"The process is incredibly onerous..."
"Laundry lovers know how to get rid of the things that can make washing, folding, and putting clothes away seem onerous."
"The loans that China provides are often opaque and onerous." (Shannon K. O'Neil, Foreign Affairs)
"Lee found the limitations on his right to work onerous." (Timothy McLaughlin, The Atlantic)
"Environmentalism poses stark issues of survival, for humankind and for all those other tribes of creatures over which we have exercised our onerous dominion." (Marilynne Robinson, The Death of Adam, 1998.)
Etymology
The Core Idea: "Burden"
At its heart, "onerous" is all about carrying a heavy burden. To understand where it comes from, we need to look at its Latin roots.
Latin Origins:
The word "onerous" comes directly from the Latin word "onerosus."
"Onerosus" means "burdensome" or "heavy."
This Latin word itself is derived from "onus," which means "burden" or "load."
Tracing it Further:
Think of "onus" as the fundamental concept. It's the weight, the responsibility, the difficult task.
Then, "onerosus" takes that concept and turns it into an adjective, describing something that has that burden.
First Known Use and Meaning:
The word entered English in the 1500s.
From the very beginning, its meaning was essentially the same as it is today: "burdensome," "oppressive," or "heavy."
In Simple Terms:
Imagine someone carrying a huge, heavy sack. That sack is the "onus." If that sack is making their life miserable, we can describe their situation as "onerous." So, "onerous" has always been used to describe something that is a heavy burden.
Therefore, the word came from latin, and has held the same meaning since it entered into the English language.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Onerous
"Onerous" isn't a word that lends itself to a wide range of common idioms or set phrases. This is largely because:
Formal Tone: "Onerous" is a fairly formal word, and idioms tend to be more colloquial.
Specific Meaning: Its precise meaning (burdensome, oppressive) doesn't easily translate into metaphorical expressions.
Therefore, you won't find many well-known idioms using "onerous" directly. However, we can explore phrases and use synonyms to create similar expressions:
Phrases Using "Onerous":
"Onerous task/duty/responsibility":
This is the most common usage, emphasizing the heavy burden of a particular job.
"Onerous regulations/laws":
Frequently used in legal and political contexts to describe burdensome rules.
"Onerous financial burden":
This phrase is used to describe a heavy financial load.
"An onerous undertaking":
This phrase is used to describe a project that is very difficult.
Phrases with Synonyms (Similar Effect):
To capture the sense of "onerous," we can use synonyms in common idioms:
"To bear a heavy burden":
This idiom conveys the same sense of carrying a difficult load.
"To shoulder a great responsibility":
This emphasizes the weight of obligation.
"To be weighed down by...":
This idiom suggests being oppressed by a burden.
"To have a millstone around one's neck":
This idiom shows a heavy and hindering burden.
"To be up to ones neck in something.":
This idiom shows being overwhelmed by something.
Original Phrases:
"The onerous weight of expectation":
This phrase describes the burden of feeling pressured to succeed.
"An onerous path to completion":
This phrase shows a difficult path to finishing something.
While "onerous" itself doesn't feature prominently in idioms, its meaning can be effectively conveyed through these alternative expressions.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of onerous from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
