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
During his evening video address on Tuesday, Zelenskyy said the onus for the success of the partial ceasefire is on Moscow.
—
David Brennan, ABC News, 26 Mar. 2025
Arteta sounds like a man who knows what needs to be done — now the onus is on him and the club to do it.
—James McNicholas, New York Times, 10 May 2025
The international community must remain alive to the reality that the onus of escalatory spiral and its ensuing consequences shall squarely lie with India.
—Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025
This type of agile personalization reduces the onus on the user’s plate.
—Mark Halberstein, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for onus
David Brennan, ABC News, 26 Mar. 2025
Arteta sounds like a man who knows what needs to be done — now the onus is on him and the club to do it.
—James McNicholas, New York Times, 10 May 2025
The international community must remain alive to the reality that the onus of escalatory spiral and its ensuing consequences shall squarely lie with India.
—Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025
This type of agile personalization reduces the onus on the user’s plate.
—Mark Halberstein, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for onus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for onus
Noun
-
Choose a bright, cheery yellow paint or opt for a deep chocolate stain with white window trim for a classic cabin vibe.—
Brittany VanDerBill,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 May 2025
-
Yves Saint Laurent Vinyl Cream Lip Stain $41 $30 Nordstrom Rack YSL's Vinyl Cream Lip Stain brings the staying power of a lip stain and the shine factor of a gloss.—
Annie Blackman,
Allure,
23 May 2025
Noun
-
Obviously, none of their former ballclubs have met expectations, but the managers don’t deserve all of the blame for the losing seasons.—
Daniel R. Epstein,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2025
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The report lays the blame for these revisions at the feet of the federal government, specifically citing tariffs and uncertainty over funding cuts.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2025
Noun
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The transition to the name MASH was done to take away some of the stigma associated with older terminology.—
Suchandrima Bhowmik,
Health,
31 May 2025
-
Millennials courageously started talking openly about therapy, anxiety, and depression, breaking decades of stigma.—
Charell G. Coleman,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
Noun
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An arrest does not constitute a finding of guilt: A 23-year-old woman from Peoria was arrested on charges of burglary and retail theft at 4:42 p.m. May 21 at North Washington Street and East Ogden Avenue.—
Steve Metsch,
Chicago Tribune,
28 May 2025
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For Omer Shem Tov, among the last of the hostages to be released before the ceasefire collapsed in March, there is an ever-present feeling of guilt.—
Jeremy Diamond,
CNN Money,
28 May 2025
Noun
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In his podcast on The Daily Wire this week, conservative commentator Ben Shapiro cited the taint of the jet deal and called on his listeners to honestly consider its implications.—
Howard LaFranchi,
Christian Science Monitor,
15 May 2025
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Chapter 7 Delaware Bay Water that Americans rely on for drinking and irrigation under threat from taint of saltwater Between New Jersey and Delaware, the river gives way to the Delaware Bay, where the water is salty.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2025
Noun
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That brings us to that one blot on Wodehouse’s life.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Apr. 2025
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The ink blots of the past 20 years are dried all over Metal Gear Solid Delta.—
Ashley Bardhan,
Rolling Stone,
6 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Not only was this request rejected, but on each occasion that Lee privately visited the police, the media was tipped off in advance, forcing the actor to take a walk of shame past a sea of reporters and cameras ready and poised at the station’s entrance — further feeding the media frenzy.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
21 May 2025
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But how does an actor expose himself to pain and suffering — and shame?—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
20 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Onus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/onus. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
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