onerous decision

USAGE SUMMARY

"onerous decision" is a correct phrase and it can be used in written English.
It means a decision that is difficult, burdensome, or causing a lot of trouble or hardship. It can be used in formal or informal contexts. Example: After hours of deliberation, the board finally reached an onerous decision to cut the company's budget by 20%.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Tory Tom Tugendhat was in no doubt of that: "I can only imagine the burden on the Prime Minister's shoulders as she took this onerous decision," he waxed.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Otherwise, in the words of Marx, it simply "relieves the citizenry of onerous decision-making obligations and intensifies their gathering sense of political impotence".

The Guardian - Tech

Essentially that means demanding that applicants produce documents they are unlikely to have available, putting them through an onerous interview process, delaying decisions, and rejections without explanations.

Huffington Post

Young married girls face onerous domestic burdens, constrained decision-making and reduced life choices.

Unicef

That decision, like the onerous bailout package for Cyprus announced early Monday, was sealed in Brussels in secretive emergency sessions in the dead of night in late October 2011.

The New York Times

This may seem onerous in an era where decisions and implementation are expected to be rapid and intuitive, but we argue that the costs of "slowing down" in this case are considerably less than the costs of potential deviations between designed and perceived interdependence (i.e., unproductive team behavior such as conflict and lack of trust).

Journal of Organization Design

Monday's Supreme Court decision -- striking down onerous and dangerous Texas regulations on abortion clinics and requiring similar repeals nationwide -- was a major victory for women and families across the country.

Huffington Post

However, the process of making the decision to match salaries is onerous.

Human Resources for Health

First off, there is a $15 million deficit to manage, made more onerous by the board's inexplicable and costly decision to forgo staged productions in the current season while the David H. Koch Theater (formerly the New York State Theater) is being renovated.

The New York Times

The recent decision by the Obama administration to place onerous conditions and limitations on visits by lawyers with their clients detained at Guantánamo Bay is reminiscent of such ill-advised decisions.

The New York Times

While the Yankees contemplate these free-agent and arbitration decisions and desperately try to unload the onerous contracts of Raul Mondesi, Rondell White and Sterling Hitchcock, they have maintained interest in signing Hideki Matsui, the Japanese outfielder.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "onerous decision", consider the context and ensure that the phrase accurately reflects the burden or difficulty associated with the choice being made. Avoid using it for minor or trivial decisions.

Common error

Avoid using "onerous decision" when a simpler term like "difficult decision" or "tough choice" would suffice. The phrase is best reserved for situations where the burden or complexity is truly significant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "onerous decision" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "onerous" modifies the noun "decision". It describes a decision that is burdensome, difficult, or troublesome. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and appropriate usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "onerous decision" describes a choice that is particularly difficult or burdensome. It functions as a noun phrase, emphasizing the weight and responsibility associated with the decision-making process. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and can be used in written English. Although relatively rare, its primary contexts include news, formal business settings, and scientific publications. When writing, it’s best to reserve "onerous decision" for situations where the difficulty or burden is truly significant, avoiding overuse in simpler contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult choice

Focuses on the difficulty of the selection process.

burdensome decision

Highlights the weight and responsibility associated with the decision.

challenging decision

Emphasizes the demanding nature of the decision.

tough call

An informal way to describe a difficult decision.

weighty decision

Suggests the significant impact of the decision.

momentous decision

Implies the decision is of great importance and consequence.

critical decision

Indicates the decision is essential and crucial.

demanding decision

Stresses the effort and thought required to make the decision.

formidable decision

Emphasizes the intimidating aspect of making the decision.

taxing decision

Highlights the draining and exhausting nature of the decision-making process.

FAQs

How to use "onerous decision" in a sentence?

You can use "onerous decision" to describe a difficult or burdensome choice. For example, "The company faced an "onerous decision" regarding layoffs."

What can I say instead of "onerous decision"?

You can use alternatives like "difficult choice", "tough call", or "weighty decision" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "onerous decision" or "onerous choice"?

"Onerous decision" and "onerous choice" are both correct and can be used interchangeably, although "decision" is slightly more formal.

What's the difference between "onerous decision" and "difficult decision"?

While both describe challenging choices, "onerous decision" emphasizes the burden, hardship, or responsibility associated with the decision, while "difficult decision" simply highlights the complexity or challenge of the decision-making process.