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Definitions

onus

[oh-nuhs] / ˈoʊ nəs /
NOUN
burden
Synonyms
STRONG
blame blot blur brand charge culpability duty encumbrance fault guilt incubus liability load millstone obligation odium oppression responsibility slur spot stain stigma task tax weight
WEAK
bar sinister black eye deadweight
Antonyms
STRONG
advantage benefit blank blessing exculpation exoneration irresponsibility praise
WEAK
aid help

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“The onus is 100% on us to say: here is the value of being here,” said Remzi Arpaci-Dusseau, a professor of computer sciences at University of Wisconsin.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

The defense put the onus for the violence on Crook.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

Lagarde’s warning, if the governments fail to put “the onus on diplomacy rather than war” and fail in “good financial management of public budgets” is stark: history will repeat itself.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 24, 2026

An Anthropic spokeswoman said the change is intended to help the company compete with several rivals against an uneven policy backdrop that puts the onus on companies to make their own judgments about safeguards.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 25, 2026

“Then on me be the onus of bringing it forward. Signior Eduardo, are you in voice to-night?”

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.