feel onerous

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "feel onerous" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express that something feels burdensome or oppressive, often in relation to tasks or responsibilities. Example: "Many employees feel onerous about the new reporting requirements imposed by management."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

This makes our goal feel onerous, miserable, overwhelming and unrealistic, causing us to give up after a short time.

The Guardian

Scheduled to last two hours without intermission, the first night ran 30 minutes over, yet the surplus did not feel onerous.

The New York Times - Arts

Of course, friends recommend books& 8212but usually based on their tastes, not yours, and then reading can feel onerous, like a book report crossed with a blind date.

The New Yorker

E-mail address GO SIGN UP Share Tweet Of course, friends recommend books& 8212but usually based on their tastes, not yours, and then reading can feel onerous, like a book report crossed with a blind date.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

But in tough times, those fees suddenly feel wrong, and the debt we have piled up suddenly feels onerous.

The New York Times

In the downturn other Premier League high-spenders focused their energies on shedding players whose inflated transfer fees felt onerous and whose high wages have rendered them hard to move on.

The Guardian - Sport

File it with the already bulging portfolio of great Messi memories and be aware that if the expectations on him sometimes feel too onerous it is only because we are so in thrall of his greatness.

The Guardian - Sport

The network provides them with their signature shows — not just "Morning Edition," but "All Things Considered," "Fresh Air," "Car Talk" and others — but it also has a fee structure that many stations feel is onerous.

The New York Times

Switching to a 'store' tab doesn't feel so onerous on desktops, but it could make or break conversion rates on an iPhone.

TechCrunch

It was a nothing task, yet it felt incredibly onerous to me.

The New York Times

Chelsea will draw on that spirit for the return but theirs feels an onerous task.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "feel onerous" to describe tasks, responsibilities, or obligations that are perceived as burdensome and create a sense of difficulty or oppression. Break down the task into smaller, manageable steps to make it less "onerous".

Common error

Avoid using "feel onerous" to describe simple inconveniences. "Onerous" implies a significant burden; reserve it for situations that genuinely cause hardship or difficulty. Be specific about what feels "onerous" to enhance clarity. For example, instead of "The task felt onerous", specify "The reporting requirements felt onerous because of the tight deadline."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "feel onerous" functions as a subjective assessment, expressing a personal perception of something being burdensome or difficult. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability, particularly in contexts where individuals experience a sense of oppression or strain.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "feel onerous" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a subjective experience of something being burdensome or oppressive. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness and relevance in expressing personal perceptions. While the phrase isn't exceedingly common, it appears in reliable sources such as The New York Times and The Guardian, indicating acceptability in neutral to slightly formal registers. To enhance clarity in your writing, ensure the term "onerous" accurately reflects the degree of difficulty or burden experienced.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

feel burdensome

Replaces "onerous" with a more common synonym, maintaining a similar level of formality.

feel overwhelming

Indicates a sense of being unable to cope with the scale or intensity of something.

feel taxing

Highlights the demanding or exhausting nature of something.

feel oppressive

Emphasizes the sense of being weighed down or controlled, suggesting a stronger negative impact.

feel arduous

Emphasizes the strenuous and challenging nature of the task.

feel heavy

Uses a more literal term to describe the sensation of something being difficult to bear.

feel cumbersome

Highlights the awkwardness or difficulty in managing or handling something.

feel like a burden

Shifts the focus to the feeling of being a weight on someone or something.

feel grievous

Indicates a sense of sorrow or distress caused by the burden.

feel intolerable

Expresses the feeling that something is unbearable or cannot be endured.

FAQs

How can I use "feel onerous" in a sentence?

Use "feel onerous" to describe something that seems burdensome or oppressive. For example: "The new regulations "feel burdensome" to many small business owners."

What are some alternatives to "feel onerous"?

Alternatives include "feel burdensome", "feel taxing", or "feel oppressive", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "feel onerous" or "is onerous"?

"Feel onerous" describes a subjective experience, while "is onerous" describes an objective quality. Use "feel onerous" when expressing someone's perception of a burden; use "is onerous" when stating that something inherently poses a burden.

Which is more formal, "feel onerous" or "feel difficult"?

"Feel onerous" is generally more formal and conveys a stronger sense of burden than "feel difficult". "Feel difficult" is a more general term for something that requires effort.