adj.
Pronunciation: ' ä-n ə -r ə s, ' ō -
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French honereus, from Latin onerosus, from oner-, onus burden; akin to Sanskrit anas cart
Date: 14th century
1 : involving, imposing, or constituting a burden : TROUBLESOME <an onerous task>
2 : having legal obligations that outweigh the advantages <an onerous contract>
– oner · ous · ly adverb
– oner · ous · ness noun
synonyms ONEROUS , BURDENSOME , OPPRESSIVE , EXACTING mean imposing hardship. ONEROUS stresses being laborious and heavy especially because distasteful <the onerous task of cleaning up the mess>. BURDENSOME suggests causing mental as well as physical strain < burdensome responsibilities>. OPPRESSIVE implies extreme harshness or severity in what is imposed <the oppressive tyranny of a police state>. EXACTING implies rigor or sternness rather than tyranny or injustice in the demands made or in the one demanding <an exacting employer>.