Onerous
hardNegative toneAHN-er-us
adjective
Definition
burdensome; involving a great deal of effort or difficulty
Memory hook
ONEROUS sounds like 'on-us', as in the burden is ON US. Picture an ox staggering under an enormous load labeled ONUS.
Word roots
Learning roots unlocks whole word families. Study common GRE root words.
Examples
“The contract imposed onerous obligations that the small firm could not realistically meet.”
“Caring for three sick relatives at once proved an onerous responsibility.”
Test yourself
Fill in the blank with the right word:
“The contract imposed ______ obligations that the small firm could not realistically meet.”
Show answer
onerous
Synonyms
Antonyms
Categories
GRE Tip
Onerous is a hard-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "burdensome" or "oppressive" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "easy".
Related GRE Words
dystopian
Relating to or denoting an imagined state or society where there is great suffering or injustice
intractable
difficult to manage, control, or solve
arduous
Requiring great effort; difficult and tiring
elusive
Difficult to find, catch, or achieve
extricate
to free from a difficulty or entanglement
flounder
To struggle clumsily or helplessly; to be in serious difficulty
Master onerous and 1,000+ GRE words
Learn through stories, practice with real GRE questions, and never forget with spaced repetition.