burdensome

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "burdensome" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use the word when you want to describe something as being hard to bear, oppressive, or onerous. Example sentence: The farmer found the increasing costs of running his farm to be increasingly burdensome.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Brazilian businesses are often unregistered, partly to avoid tax but also because much of the paperwork is pointlessly burdensome.

The Economist

European integration and international terrorism have swung the pendulum the other way: Britain's extradition regime is now widely regarded as unfairly burdensome on the innocent.Happily, as Theresa May, the home secretary, recently announced, the government is now reviewing the system.

The Economist

Perhaps the CIA's failure to predict the Soviet Union's collapse seemed suddenly less burdensome.

The Economist

"If you have to go back to court every time you look at the information in your custody, you can imagine that would be quite burdensome," deputy assistant attorney general Brad Wiegmann told the board.

The Guardian

Blair replied: "We can do quite a lot here... we will be consulting with your contacts and others on the best way to do this – we simply cannot have burdensome regulation here".

The Guardian

We'll be covering: What are the most unhelpful, burdensome tasks?

The Guardian

The Scottish government also wants more localised discretion in implementing regulations to make EU policies "more proportionate and less burdensome", pointing to changes made to the common fisheries policy last year.

The Guardian

The judgment notice said that if I'd asked for just one free school form, rather than all of them, the decision would have been upheld, but removing all the personal data on so many documents was overly burdensome.

The Guardian

"Just the latest version of the Obama administration's costly and burdensome overreach into Americans' livelihoods," he wrote.

The Guardian

Florida senator Marco Rubio, too, railed against burdensome regulations that are manageable for "million or billion" dollar companies, but crushing for those trying to start a business "from their garages".

The Guardian

Lord Wallace of Tankerness, deputy Lords leader, denied the requirement would be "burdensome," and insisted most staff costs would be excluded from campaigning limits.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "burdensome", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being burdened. For instance, specify whether it's a financial, emotional, or administrative burden.

Common error

Avoid using "burdensome" vaguely. Instead of saying "The task was burdensome", specify what made it so, such as "The task was burdensome due to its complex regulations and extensive paperwork."

Linguistic Context

The word "burdensome" functions primarily as an adjective. As Ludwig AI confirms, it describes something that is difficult to bear, oppressive, or onerous. It modifies nouns, indicating a quality of being hard to endure, as seen in examples like "burdensome regulations" or "burdensome debts".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Formal & Business

29%

Science

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "burdensome" is a common adjective used to describe something difficult to bear or causing hardship. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and frequently used in various contexts, particularly in news and business. The word's function is to express a negative impact or difficulty. When using "burdensome", consider specifying the nature of the burden. Alternatives include "onerous", "taxing", and "arduous", each carrying slightly different connotations. Be clear and specific to enhance the impact of your message when using the word "burdensome".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

onerous

Similar in meaning, but often implies a legal or formal obligation that is troublesome.

taxing

Focuses on the demanding nature of the task or situation, emphasizing the strain it puts on one's resources.

arduous

Highlights the difficulty and effort required, often suggesting a long and challenging process.

demanding

Emphasizes the high expectations and requirements that must be met.

oppressive

Suggests a sense of being weighed down or controlled, often implying unfairness.

cumbersome

Refers to something that is awkward or difficult to handle, often due to its size or complexity.

troublesome

Indicates something that causes problems or difficulties, often of a minor or irritating nature.

weighty

Implies significance and importance, often carrying a sense of responsibility or gravity.

grueling

Describes an experience that is extremely tiring and demanding, both physically and mentally.

formidable

Suggests something that is intimidating and challenging to overcome.

FAQs

How can I use "burdensome" in a sentence?

You can use "burdensome" to describe something that is difficult to bear or causes hardship. For example, "The new regulations were "burdensome" for small businesses."

What can I say instead of "burdensome"?

You can use alternatives like "onerous", "taxing", or "arduous" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "burdensome task" or "burdening task"?

"Burdensome task" is the correct phrase. "Burdening task" is less common and can sound awkward. "Burdensome" acts as an adjective describing the nature of the task, while "burdening" would imply the task is actively placing a burden, which isn't typically the intended meaning.

What's the difference between "burdensome" and "cumbersome"?

"Burdensome" refers to something that is difficult to bear or causes hardship, while "cumbersome" refers to something that is awkward or difficult to handle, often due to its size or complexity. A task can be both, but they highlight different aspects of the difficulty.