BURDENSOME Synonyms: 109 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'burdensome' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of burdensome are exacting , onerous , and oppressive . While all these words mean "imposing hardship," burdensome suggests causing mental as well as physical strain. // burdensome responsibilities

Q: Where would 'exacting' be a reasonable alternative to 'burdensome'?

The words exacting and burdensome are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, exacting implies rigor or sternness rather than tyranny or injustice in the demands made or in the one demanding. // an exacting employer

Q: When can 'onerous' be used instead of 'burdensome'?

The words onerous and burdensome can be used in similar contexts, but onerous stresses being laborious and heavy especially because distasteful. // the onerous task of cleaning up the mess

Q: When could 'oppressive' be used to replace 'burdensome'?

While the synonyms oppressive and burdensome are close in meaning, oppressive implies extreme harshness or severity in what is imposed. // the oppressive tyranny of a police state

burdensome

adjective

ˈbər-dᵊn-səm

Definition of burdensome next

as in oppressive

difficult to endure the burdensome living conditions that the early settlers had to endure

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in challenging

requiring much time, effort, or careful attention the burdensome task of finishing the tax return

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective burdensome contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of burdensome are exacting, onerous, and oppressive. While all these words mean "imposing hardship," burdensome suggests causing mental as well as physical strain.

burdensome responsibilities

Where would exacting be a reasonable alternative to burdensome?

The words exacting and burdensome are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, exacting implies rigor or sternness rather than tyranny or injustice in the demands made or in the one demanding.

an exacting employer

When can onerous be used instead of burdensome?

The words onerous and burdensome can be used in similar contexts, but onerous stresses being laborious and heavy especially because distasteful.

the onerous task of cleaning up the mess

When could oppressive be used to replace burdensome?

While the synonyms oppressive and burdensome are close in meaning, oppressive implies extreme harshness or severity in what is imposed.

the oppressive tyranny of a police state

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of burdensome On Wednesday, the Supreme Court heard arguments that could determine if a Texas age-gating law preventing kids from accessing pornography online is overly burdensome for adults. —

Ashley Belanger, Ars Technica, 15 Jan. 2025 But glossed over amid all the tributes is the burdensome legacy that Mr. Carter left for his Democratic Party: a presidency long caricatured as a symbol of ineffectiveness and weakness. —

Adam Nagourney, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2025 Doing so can be a burdensome undertaking that under current standards can stretch on for years. —

Brooke Migdon, The Hill, 6 Jan. 2025 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 See all Example Sentences for burdensome

Recent Examples of Synonyms for burdensome

Adjective

Jimmy Garoppolo profited from exposure to 49ers’ system The Commanders, thankfully shorn of the oppressive incompetence of former owner Daniel Snyder, were remade in a year by G.M. Adam Peters and coach Dan Quinn.

— Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 21 Jan. 2025
The book, taking the form of a fable told in short, single paragraphs, scattershot swatches of wisdom, aphorisms and illustrations, has long been a manual for how to practice togetherness in the face of extreme, oppressive opposition.

— Mathew Rodriguez, Them, 20 Jan. 2025