onerous day

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "onerous day" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a day that is burdensome, difficult, or demanding, often in terms of work or responsibilities. Example: "After an onerous day filled with back-to-back meetings and tight deadlines, I was exhausted by the time I got home."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Baseball remains hard to play, at times harshly unforgiving, and players react differently to its onerous day-to-day.

The New Yorker

It is time to change the onerous 30-day impound law for driving without a license.

Los Angeles Times

Mr. Bedell said that the purchase would relieve him of onerous and time-consuming day-to-day attention to managerial details that had distracted him from his first love, vineyard and cellar work.

The New York Times

An immediate and widespread outcry on Twitter and other social-media platforms revealed that the Mayor had underestimated the local opposition, and that same day, citing onerous demands from the International Olympic Committee, the city dropped its plans to submit a bid.

The New Yorker

When pressed for a sensible answer, Dalman admitted he had only one candidate in mind, which we can safely assume was Solskjaer, but said David Kerslake, formerly Mackay's assistant, would remain in charge on a temporary basis for Wednesday's onerous trip to Arsenal.

The Guardian - Sport

When all 20 students had gone, she set about disassembling her classroom -- a task that, on a 90-degree day, seemed as onerous as moving an entire house of furniture.

The New York Times

The 2016 primary has seen its share of voting day outrages, from onerous voter ID laws to questionable voter purges.

Huffington Post

In a tribute to an earlier, quainter day, this particularly onerous article feels it fascinating that she said stuff to magazines and blogs just to get in print.

Huffington Post

The standards agreed to Monday are less onerous than earlier proposals and give banks more leeway to define what counts as high-quality, or Tier 1, capital.

The New York Times

The standards announced Monday are less onerous than previous proposals and give banks more leeway to define what counts as high-quality, or Tier 1, capital.

The New York Times

And the task ahead on Sunday afternoon is onerous: the Jets will be facing Baltimore's fearsome front seven, which is spearheaded by the hulking tackles Sam Adams (6-3, 330 pounds) and Tony Siragusa (6-3, 340 pounds), and linebacker Ray Lewis, whom Martin calls robo-linebacker.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "onerous day" when you want to emphasize that a day involves not only difficulty but also a sense of obligation and burden. It's suitable for describing work schedules, responsibilities, or tasks that feel particularly demanding.

Common error

Avoid using "onerous day" in informal situations where simpler alternatives like "difficult day" or "busy day" would suffice. "Onerous" carries a formal tone and can sound out of place in casual conversation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "onerous day" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "onerous" modifies the noun "day". Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage and indicates that it describes a day filled with burdensome or difficult tasks.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "onerous day" is a grammatically sound and usable expression in English, primarily employed to depict a day characterized by burdensome responsibilities and challenges. Ludwig AI validates its correctness, while also recognizing that its use leans towards formal and neutral contexts. Though not exceedingly common, it conveys a sense of significant burden. Alternatives such as "difficult day" or "challenging day" may be more appropriate in informal settings, ensuring your vocabulary aligns with the intended audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult day

Replaces "onerous" with a more common synonym, "difficult", maintaining the core meaning of a challenging day.

challenging day

Substitutes "onerous" with "challenging", highlighting the demanding nature of the day.

tough day

Replaces "onerous" with "tough", conveying a sense of hardship and resilience required during the day.

arduous day

Uses "arduous" as a more formal synonym for "onerous", emphasizing the effort and exertion involved.

burdensome day

Replaces "onerous" with "burdensome", focusing on the heavy load and responsibilities associated with the day.

demanding day

Emphasizes the high expectations and requirements of the day by using "demanding".

taxing day

Highlights the depleting and draining effect of the day by using "taxing".

grueling day

Replaces "onerous" with "grueling", emphasizing the exhausting and relentless nature of the day.

trying day

Focuses on the frustrating and testing aspects of the day by using "trying".

heavy day

Conveys the weight of responsibilities and tasks associated with the day by using "heavy".

FAQs

What does "onerous day" mean?

"Onerous day" describes a day filled with tasks and responsibilities that are burdensome, difficult, and demanding. It suggests a day where one feels weighed down by obligations.

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

You can use "onerous day" to describe a particularly challenging day at work, such as: "After an "onerous day" filled with meetings, I just wanted to relax."

What can I say instead of "onerous day"?

You can use alternatives like "difficult day", "challenging day", or "tough day" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "onerous day" formal or informal?

"Onerous" is generally considered a more formal word. Therefore, "onerous day" is more appropriate for formal or professional contexts compared to informal settings where phrases like "busy day" might be more suitable.