much too onerous

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "much too onerous" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is excessively burdensome or difficult to manage. Example: "The new regulations are much too onerous for small businesses to comply with."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

So far so good, although the pro-snooping lobby protests that this is much too onerous and would slow the e-commerce boom.

The New York Times

Many of us 9-to-5 newbies may think that monitoring spending is much too onerous and complicated, but budgeting doesn't have to bog you down.

Forbes

The major reason is I think it [the NHP Regulations] is much too onerous for... the level of risk we pose to the general public... the vast majority of whatever is being produced in the natural product industry does not come anywhere close to drugs as far as the safety issues are concerned (5, Small).

BMC Health Services Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

They said it required too much paperwork and placed too onerous a responsibility on owners, whom they characterize as largely absentee.

The New York Times - Sports

"It borrowed too much, and its interest expenses became too onerous," said Betsy Snyder, a transportation analyst for Standard & Poor's Ratings Services.

The New York Times

The answer, it turns out, was that the Dragon technology would cost too much, and the conditions for using it were too onerous, in Mr. Taylor's view.

The New York Times - Tech

He also helped coordinate the White House's cybersecurity legislative agenda, which stalled in the Senate last month because of Republican concerns that the regulations would be too onerous for corporations and would give the Department of Homeland Security too much oversight.

The New York Times

"It's nothing too onerous.

The Guardian

conditions were seen as too onerous.

The New York Times

According to Validus, that proposal is too onerous.

The New York Times

"Midnight's Children" too onerous in the 552-page original?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "much too onerous" to effectively convey that the difficulty of something is beyond what is reasonable or acceptable.

Common error

Avoid using "much too onerous" when you simply mean something is difficult but still manageable. Ensure the task or requirement genuinely presents an unreasonable or excessive burden.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "much too onerous" functions as an intensifying adjective phrase. It modifies a noun by emphasizing that something is excessively burdensome or difficult. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's used to describe a state beyond what is considered reasonable or acceptable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "much too onerous" is a valid and useful phrase to describe something that is excessively burdensome or difficult. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, and while it's not exceptionally common, its presence in reputable sources like The New York Times and The Guardian indicates its acceptability. It is most frequently found in News & Media and Science contexts and is generally suitable for neutral to formal registers. Alternatives include "excessively burdensome" or "overly demanding". Use "much too onerous" when you want to strongly convey that something is not just difficult, but unreasonably so.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

far too demanding

Similar to overly demanding, but emphasizes the extent of the demands.

excessively burdensome

Replaces "much too onerous" with a more direct description of the burden involved.

overly demanding

Focuses on the high requirements or expectations, rather than the burden itself.

unduly taxing

Emphasizes the strain or pressure caused by the onerous task.

prohibitively difficult

Highlights the extreme level of difficulty, making it almost impossible.

unreasonably burdensome

Adds a layer of unfairness or injustice to the burden.

excessively challenging

Focuses on the level of challenge, suggesting it's beyond reasonable limits.

inordinately difficult

Uses a more formal tone to express the extreme difficulty.

more than one can bear

Focuses on the limit of what someone can handle.

over the top

More informal and implies something is excessive in a dramatic or unnecessary way.

FAQs

How can I use "much too onerous" in a sentence?

You can use "much too onerous" to describe something excessively burdensome or difficult. For example, "The new regulations are "much too onerous" for small businesses to comply with."

What phrases are similar to "much too onerous"?

Alternatives include "excessively burdensome", "overly demanding", or "unduly taxing", depending on the specific context.

Is "much too onerous" formal or informal?

"Much too onerous" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though it leans slightly towards formal due to the word 'onerous'. Consider your audience and the overall tone of your writing.

Is it always correct to use "much too" instead of "too"?

While "much too" intensifies the meaning of "too", it's not always interchangeable. "Much too" emphasizes a greater degree of excessiveness. For example, "much too onerous" stresses that something is significantly more burdensome than simply "too onerous".