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
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of onus
Without stringent oversight, the onus lies on companies to ensure that progress doesn't come at the expense of their employees' well-being.
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Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes, 24 Nov. 2024
Barring a trade, the onus is on the people in the dressing room to fix what ails them.
—Daniel Nugent-Bowman, The Athletic, 21 Nov. 2024
The onus is on public colleges and universities, and not athletics associations, to adhere to California’s protections for transgender student athletes.
—Calmatters, The Mercury News, 19 Nov. 2024
Before, passengers were responsible for navigating often convoluted refund processes themselves, but now, the onus is on the airlines to automatically provide refunds when applicable.
—Maia Pandey, Journal Sentinel, 19 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for onus 
Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes, 24 Nov. 2024
Barring a trade, the onus is on the people in the dressing room to fix what ails them.
—Daniel Nugent-Bowman, The Athletic, 21 Nov. 2024
The onus is on public colleges and universities, and not athletics associations, to adhere to California’s protections for transgender student athletes.
—Calmatters, The Mercury News, 19 Nov. 2024
Before, passengers were responsible for navigating often convoluted refund processes themselves, but now, the onus is on the airlines to automatically provide refunds when applicable.
—Maia Pandey, Journal Sentinel, 19 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for onus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for onus
Noun
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Make sure packing paper is free of stains, smooth it out, and then use it to wrap gifts.Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Dec. 2024
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This one also conquers mud prints, stains, odors, and whatever else your pet drags in from their outdoor adventures.Will Porter, Architectural Digest, 2 Dec. 2024
Noun
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This inward blame has been a treasure for the rich and powerful, who have had to do less for their poor, publicly and privately, than any other ruling class since, say Napoleonic times.Amanda Castro, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
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At his Monday media session, the Texans coach placed the blame for linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair’s vicious forearm to the head of a defenseless Trevor Lawrence on the Jacksonville QB.Bob Raissman, New York Daily News, 7 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Symptoms like chronic pain or fatigue can distract from decision-making, while the stigma surrounding vaginal health may prevent women from seeking timely care or discussing their struggles openly.Cheryl Robinson, Forbes, 7 Dec. 2024
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The streetwear and athleisure line includes hoodies, crewneck sweatshirts, tees, hats and totes -- all designed to break the stigma about colon cancer.Ashley Ennis, ABC News, 4 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Helping children ‘get it right’ moves away from shame and guilt and toward feelings of positive self-worth and capability.Kelsey Mora, Contributor, CNBC, 17 Dec. 2024
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By one hand, he is bound to himself, to his impiety, his recklessness, his envy and pride, his guilt and spite.Merve Emre, The New Yorker, 16 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The sordid origin story of infidelity that explains Elphaba’s birth and dysfunctional family taints everything that follows.Armond White, National Review, 27 Nov. 2024
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But their chances of finding employment or a project or business to invest in remain slim, owing to their citizenship and the taint of the Russian corporate world.Andrei Soldatov, Foreign Affairs, 13 May 2022
Noun
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For coffee stains on carpet, blot the spill first to soak up as much liquid as possible.Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Dec. 2024
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For machine-washable cloth, blot excess liquids and scrape off (don’t rub) food residue.Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Perhaps some shame or embarrassment comes with the changing perceptions of both clubs on a personal level, but Steinbrenner isn’t his dad, who used to think spring training games against the Mets were must-win affairs and would surely be seething right now.Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 9 Dec. 2024
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The series was built around Andy working her way up the ladder at the department, so for Station 19 to barely allow viewers to enjoy her being Captain and jump straight to Fire Chief is a shame.EW Staff, EW.com, 6 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near onus
Cite this Entry
“Onus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/onus. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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