It's very onerous.
Source: tatoeba (934440)
Onerous
/ˈɑnəɹəs/
Synonyms for "onerous" (119 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (24)
Strong matches (36)
effortfulencumberingexactingexhaustingexigentforcedformidablegrievousgrindinggruelinghamperinghardhard earnedhard foughthard-earnedhard-foughthardlyharshheavyheavy-handed
Show 7 more words
Adjective(7 words)
Noun(1 words)
extremely difficult
Verb(1 words)
Related words (59)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: burdensome, taxing, anguishing, annoying, arduous.
- Sentence evidence is available for onerous, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, derived_reverse, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "onerous".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "onerous"
Keep "onerous" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "onerous" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "onerous", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "onerous" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
12 entriesMore specific
12 entriesbinding termcontract clausedemanding projectextensive data collectionheavy requirementheavy tasklegal requirementlong assignmentrigid policyrigorous requirementstrict standardtaxing assignment
Collocations
5 entriesonerous burdenonerous contractonerous dutyonerous requirementsonerous task
Inflections
2 entriesmore onerousmost onerous
Derivations
2 entriessimilar
1 entriesSample sentences
12 total sentences available.
Taxation according to income is the most effective instrument yet devised to obtain just contribution from those best able to bear it and to avoid placing onerous burdens upon the mass of our people.
Source: tatoeba (5287346)
By the way, your instructions to me never to allow Sir Henry to go out alone will become very much more onerous if a love-affair were to be added to our other difficulties.
Source: tatoeba (6616924)
The Food and Drug Administration required an onerous approval process to bring any test to market.
Source: tatoeba (8653913)
Showing 4 of 12 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "onerous"?
Closest matches include burdensome, taxing, anguishing, annoying, arduous.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "onerous"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.