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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of onus
Instead, nearly all the policies and guidance documents use a case-by-case approach, putting the onus on individual schools and district leaders to make decisions.
—
Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 13 Oct. 2025
Adding a layer to the struggle to find a deal, the House remains out of town, putting the onus on the upper chamber to figure out the path forward.
—Al Weaver, The Hill, 6 Oct. 2025
The president's top economic adviser put the onus on Democrats.
—Lalee Ibssa, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2025
This urgency puts the onus on the woman to reach out and get outside of their comfort zone.
—Malia Griggs, Glamour, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for onus
Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 13 Oct. 2025
Adding a layer to the struggle to find a deal, the House remains out of town, putting the onus on the upper chamber to figure out the path forward.
—Al Weaver, The Hill, 6 Oct. 2025
The president's top economic adviser put the onus on Democrats.
—Lalee Ibssa, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2025
This urgency puts the onus on the woman to reach out and get outside of their comfort zone.
—Malia Griggs, Glamour, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for onus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for onus
Noun
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Plus, their fabric and fill are less likely to accrue that ever-darkening yellowish stain that tired goose down pillows acquire over time, thanks to sweat, oils, lotion residues, etc.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
24 Oct. 2025
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For more stubborn or deep stains, like ink or red wine, combine equal parts of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda to form a paste.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Stolarz shouldn’t shoulder all the blame for allowing four goals through two periods.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
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On both sides of the ball, the Jets haven't been able to get enough done, but more of the blame falls on the offense.—
Jon Conahan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Limited mobility, social stigma, and inaccessible spaces make isolation and loneliness a common problem.—
Joni Eareckson Tada,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
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Norton’s father said the Pippins provide the visual icon to fight the stigma that is attached to the conversation around anxiety, depression, and mental health.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
Footwear News,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Concern was etched in her voice and guilt rang through me.—
Michael Nied,
PEOPLE,
27 Oct. 2025
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Parents can enjoy guilt free screen time , which is actually educational.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The film centered on the Environmental Protection Agency encasing the Simpsons’ hometown of Springfield in a dome after Homer taints the area’s water supply.—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
29 Sep. 2025
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Take care not to touch the glands, or your hands will carry their taint to the meat.—
Maurice H. Decker,
Outdoor Life,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Mix 1 cup of baking soda with 2 cups of hydrogen peroxide and use a white cloth to apply it to the stain and blot gently.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
25 Oct. 2025
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Let sit for 15-20 minutes, then blot away all the surface moisture.—
Gretchen McKay,
Boston Herald,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
There were no songs from that album in the mix, which is a shame.—
Ed Masley,
AZCentral.com,
23 Oct. 2025
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Menopause is a perfect time to expand your definition of intimacy, and that means removing the shame from having open and honest conversations.—
Essence,
Essence,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Onus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/onus. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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