burdensome

adjective

bur·​den·​some ˈbər-dᵊn-səm 

: imposing or constituting a burden : oppressive

burdensome restrictions

Synonyms

• bitter
• brutal
• cruel
• excruciating
• grievous
• grim
• hard
• hardhanded
• harsh
• heavy
• inhuman
• murderous
• onerous
• oppressive
• rough
• rugged
• searing
• severe
• stiff
• tough
• trying

Choose the Right Synonym for burdensome

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

Examples of burdensome in a Sentence

The responsibility has become burdensome.

the burdensome living conditions that the early settlers had to endure

Recent Examples on the Web

She, too, is forced to go to internet cafés to handle the government’s burdensome reporting requirements, which must be done online. —Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 2 Jan. 2025

But a new trade proposal posted on the Fireside Yankees podcast's X (formerly Twitter) feed calls on the Yankees to address that issue while also freeing themselves from a burdensome contract. —George Monastiriakos, Newsweek, 30 Dec. 2024

This is common in this economy, says Lee, since many of the best-paying jobs for Gen Z are located in cities where the rent is most burdensome. —Judy Lagrou, CNBC, 10 Dec. 2024

The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, a trade group representing most major automakers except Tesla, has also criticized the requirement as burdensome. —Jarrett Renshaw, USA TODAY, 15 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

burdensome

adjective

bur·​den·​some ˈbərd-ᵊn-səm 

: so heavy or hard to take as to be a burden

burdensomeness noun