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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 onus
But with the internet and various health-tracking apps, the onus is on you to take personal control over your daily habits.
—
Jon Bier, Rolling Stone, 12 Dec. 2024
Put the onus of repurposing workers to create more wealth on companies.
—Quanta Magazine, 4 Dec. 2024
While many of the DOL’s recommendations center around helping workers adjust, the agency also places an urgent onus on protecting workers’ rights, data and privacy.
—Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 5 Nov. 2024
The president-elect put the onus on his attorney general appointee Pam Bondi and FBI director appointee Kash Patel on whether or not to charge Smith.
—Jenny Goldsberry, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 10 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for onus 
Jon Bier, Rolling Stone, 12 Dec. 2024
Put the onus of repurposing workers to create more wealth on companies.
—Quanta Magazine, 4 Dec. 2024
While many of the DOL’s recommendations center around helping workers adjust, the agency also places an urgent onus on protecting workers’ rights, data and privacy.
—Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 5 Nov. 2024
The president-elect put the onus on his attorney general appointee Pam Bondi and FBI director appointee Kash Patel on whether or not to charge Smith.
—Jenny Goldsberry, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 10 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for onus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for onus
Noun
-
Pre-moistened cat wipes can help remove stains without irritating their skin.Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 26 Dec. 2024
-
From there, use a clean, soft toothbrush to remove any lingering stains and wipe off with a clean cotton cloth to dry and remove any excess oil.Lauren Wicks, Southern Living, 24 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Over at the Capitol, the GOP said Democrats should bear the blame.Savannah Kuchar, USA TODAY, 21 Dec. 2024
-
Unhappily for Harris' 2028 aspirations, though, almost everyone has found a way to place some of the blame on her and her campaign.Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
The stigma of mental health treatment prevents many people from acknowledging their issues, much less seeking help for them.Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
-
Shatterproof is a national nonprofit that addresses substance use disorder through distinct initiatives, including advocating for state and federal policies, ending addiction stigma, and educating communities about the treatment system.Aneri Pattani, NPR, 16 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
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
-
The Defense Needs To Sway One Individual It has also been noted that while prosecutors need to convince the entire panel of an individual's guilt, the defense team needs to reach just a single individual.Peter Suciu, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
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
-
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
-
Red Wine or Dark-Colored Food Stains As quickly as possible, lift away any solids and blot, blot, blot away the moisture.Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 28 Oct. 2024
-
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
Noun
-
Knowing you all are there, anonymous, in the seedy place together, can quickly endear you to other users with expediency and a total absence of shame.Fran Tirado, Them, 20 Dec. 2024
-
Any person with even a modicum of self-awareness or shame would recognize the dynamics at play and try to respect the delicate emotions of everyone else in the car.Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 19 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near onus
Cite this Entry
“Onus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/onus. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share