ENGLISH
REFERENCE

onerous

adj.
C1 Advanced US //ˈoʊnɝəs// UK //ˈəʊnəɹəs// oner·ous

adj. describing a task or duty that is very difficult, boring, or unpleasant to do.

adj. characterised by being burdensome, tedious, or difficult to perform. Often used to describe professional or legal obligations that are perceived as a heavy responsibility.


SIMPLE

The new job has many onerous duties.

CONTEXTUAL

The legal team warned that the contract contained several onerous clauses that would be difficult to fulfill.

COMPLEX

While the position offers a high salary, the onerous nature of the administrative tasks often leads to high staff turnover within the first year.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English onerous, from Middle French onereux, from Old French onereus, from Latin onerosus (“burdensome”), from onus (“load”). Compare exonerate.

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