1
as in stain
a mark of guilt or disgrace
hoping to avoid the onus of failure by lowering expectations ahead of time
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in blame
responsibility for wrongdoing or failure
he perpetually tries to shift the onus for any mistakes onto other team members
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of onus
Zoom in: Utah last week became the first state to pass an age verification law that requires parental consent for app store downloads and puts the onus on Apple and Google.
—
Maria Curi, Axios, 11 Mar. 2025
Hezbollah has put the onus on the Lebanese state to ensure Israel’s withdrawal.
—Reuters, NBC News, 26 Jan. 2025
Entering the final year of his contract, the onus is on Hoyer to win now.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2025
House Democrats from across the party's ideological spectrum have argued the onus of averting a government shutdown falls squarely on Republicans, who control Congress and the White House.
—Andrew Solender, Axios, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for onus
Maria Curi, Axios, 11 Mar. 2025
Hezbollah has put the onus on the Lebanese state to ensure Israel’s withdrawal.
—Reuters, NBC News, 26 Jan. 2025
Entering the final year of his contract, the onus is on Hoyer to win now.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2025
House Democrats from across the party's ideological spectrum have argued the onus of averting a government shutdown falls squarely on Republicans, who control Congress and the White House.
—Andrew Solender, Axios, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for onus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for onus
Noun
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No one wants a yellow stain on their outdoor furniture.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
26 Mar. 2025
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Allow 5-10 minutes for the hydrogen peroxide to penetrate and break down the stain, then wash with hot, soapy water and dry thoroughly.—
Jolie Kerr,
Better Homes & Gardens,
24 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The attention, and some of the blame, would have to start shifting onto a player pool whose reputation had been built up but now had to start delivering.—
Paul Tenorio,
The Athletic,
21 Mar. 2025
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This doesn't mean eliminating accountability but rather shifting from cultures of blame to curiosity when things go wrong.—
Michael Hudson,
Forbes,
20 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The stigma around hair loss leads to 85% of alopecia areata patients experiencing social exclusion or emotional distress.—
Nathan Kattapuram,
Baltimore Sun,
19 Mar. 2025
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Systemic problems, including stigma, attacks on civil rights and preventing access to health care exacerbates mental health challenges, added Dr. Melina Wald, a clinical psychologist at her private practice Bespoke Health in Connecticut and New York state, via email.—
Madeline Holcombe,
CNN,
17 Mar. 2025
Noun
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After all, ditching an $8 bottle midway through feels a lot better than finishing a $60 bottle out of guilt.—
Annie Blackman,
Allure,
28 Mar. 2025
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The woman admitted her actions were fueled in part by guilt for having been duped by the scammer in the first place.—
Ron Estes,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Catholicism offers ritual without the tedium of rationality; anarchism offers revolutionary action against inequality without the taint of materialism, the prospect of personal gain.—
Adam Gopnik,
The New Yorker,
24 Feb. 2025
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Driving the news: Researchers from Oregon State sent a bunch of Oregon pinot — some with smoke taint, some smoke-free — over to New Zealand for a taste test.—
Kale Williams,
Axios,
12 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Even in victory, there had to be a blot in the Leeds copybook.—
Beren Cross,
The Athletic,
16 Mar. 2025
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Dab with a clean damp cloth to remove soapy residue, then blot dry.—
Jessica Bennett,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The much bigger shame with Social Security is that it’s forced savings sans any kind of equity component.—
John Tamny,
Forbes,
22 Mar. 2025
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There’s no shame at this no-audition choir that’s teaching Angelenos to sing.—
Ryan Fonseca,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Onus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/onus. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.
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