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
Norman is putting the onus on the supporters of the SALT hike to locate the savings themselves.
—
Mychael Schnell, The Hill, 16 May 2025
Again, the onus will fall on Jimmy Butler and Jonathan Kuminga, the team’s top two scorers since Curry’s injury, to summon enough to force a Game 6 and hope Curry is able to return to the court by Sunday.
—Michael Nowels, Mercury News, 13 May 2025
But the onus is on users to change account security.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
Denver decided to force the issue, consistently attacking the teeth of Oklahoma City’s defense and putting the onus on the officials to make calls — the Nuggets finished the game taking twice as many free throws as their counterparts, 32 to 16.
—Kelly Iko, New York Times, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for onus
Mychael Schnell, The Hill, 16 May 2025
Again, the onus will fall on Jimmy Butler and Jonathan Kuminga, the team’s top two scorers since Curry’s injury, to summon enough to force a Game 6 and hope Curry is able to return to the court by Sunday.
—Michael Nowels, Mercury News, 13 May 2025
But the onus is on users to change account security.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
Denver decided to force the issue, consistently attacking the teeth of Oklahoma City’s defense and putting the onus on the officials to make calls — the Nuggets finished the game taking twice as many free throws as their counterparts, 32 to 16.
—Kelly Iko, New York Times, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for onus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for onus
Noun
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Adding in a few drops of dish soap to the solution can help lift the stains and water spots for spotless windows.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
12 July 2025
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Original price: $94.99 A Bissel Little Green cleaner tackles spills and pet stains while also removing pet hair, dander and dust from your furniture and carpets.—
Christopher Murray
may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom.,
FOXNews.com,
10 July 2025
Noun
-
It could be argued that the question was more about accountability than blame.—
John C. Moritz,
Austin American Statesman,
17 July 2025
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Aspirational Luxury Falls In 2025, the luxury market is looking down the barrel at its first major slowdown in 15 years, excepting the Covid years, and BCG puts much of the blame on brands’ overemphasizing the aspirational consumer segment.—
Pamela N. Danziger,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Noun
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That disconnect is often attributed to stigma, limited access, and cost — problems Apple is now attempting to address by integrating hearing assistance into mainstream, albeit also expensive, hardware.—
Anisha Sircar,
Forbes.com,
16 July 2025
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There has been a shift in recent years in terms of top talent’s willingness to show face in Saudi as the stigma of doing so has dissipated over time.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
14 July 2025
Noun
-
There's a lot of guilt … a ton of fear, but there's also deep gratitude.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 July 2025
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Wood sent to prison after violating probation A Jan. 1, 2010, incident — five months after his initial probation ended — led to an admission of guilt by Wood.—
Jose R. Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
12 July 2025
Noun
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Some argued that, given the presumptive unethical taint of such collections, human remains should be buried or otherwise respectfully disposed of.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
23 June 2025
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That realization tends to color behavior, and taints the findings.—
Abhimanyu Ghoshal,
New Atlas,
17 June 2025
Noun
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This blot on our state suggests the need for a constitutional amendment to make the office safely independent of the governor.—
Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 June 2025
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In Tunisia, President Kais Saied has notoriously imprisoned political opponents, destroying the judiciary, and diminished parliament to an ink blot.—
Bruce Fein,
Baltimore Sun,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Many people with hypersexual behaviors feel intense feelings of guilt and shame, which can affect their mental health.2 Experts aren’t sure what causes hypersexuality.—
Wendy Wisner,
Health,
9 July 2025
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Here’s an alphabetical list: Demons at Dawn is Julián Hernández’s morning-after romance, a rebuke of the walk of shame that embraces a careerist couple’s need for love.—
Armond White,
National Review,
9 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Onus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/onus. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
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