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

Talking about reining in burdensome regulations, and that may be completely genuine. —Tax Notes Staff, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025

In order to speed up rebuilding efforts from the devastating wildfires earlier this year, Newsom has slashed California’s burdensome environmental and zoning regulations. —Douglas Schoen, Orange County Register, 13 Mar. 2025

Catch up quick: Carr has long criticized the FCC's burdensome regulations and argued many of them are outdated, especially ones around station ownership limits. —Tim Baysinger, Axios, 13 Mar. 2025

Although filling out the necessary document is less burdensome than many people assume, doing so requires speaking with family and friends to determine who understands your wishes and who would be willing to act as your health care agent. —Anisah Bagasra, The Conversation, 11 Mar. 2025

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