Word: onerous

Associations

"Onerous" means something that is very heavy, burdensome, or difficult to deal with. It often refers to tasks or responsibilities that are demanding and require a lot of effort.

• Example 1: "The new regulations imposed onerous requirements on small businesses." Here, it means that the rules created a heavy burden for these businesses.
• Example 2: "She found the job's demands to be quite onerous." This suggests that the job came with many challenging responsibilities.
• Example 3: "The onerous task of cleaning up after the party was left to a few people." This indicates that the cleaning job was difficult and took a lot of effort.

A well-known synonym for "onerous" is "burdensome." While both words convey a sense of burden, "onerous" often implies a heavier challenge or responsibility that is not easily taken on.

Substitution

Other words or phrases that can be used instead of "onerous" include:

• Burdensome: This also means difficult, but it may not imply the same level of heaviness or challenge.
• Heavy: This is used more informally, and it might refer to emotional weight, but not always work or responsibilities.
• Demanding: This focuses more on the effort and time needed rather than the burden aspect.

Deconstruction

The word "onerous" comes from the Latin root "onus," which means "burden" or "load." The suffix "-ous" indicates that the word is an adjective, describing a quality of being full of a burden. Understanding the root helps clarify that "onerous" relates to burdens or heavy tasks.

Inquiry

• When was the last time you felt overwhelmed by a task or responsibility? How did you handle it?
• Can you think of a situation in school or work where the demands felt particularly onerous?
• How do you usually deal with tasks that you consider onerous? Do you have any strategies to make them easier?