onerous demand

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "onerous demand" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a request or requirement that is burdensome or difficult to fulfill. Example: "The company placed an onerous demand on its employees to meet unrealistic deadlines, leading to increased stress and burnout."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

But, in an unprecedented move for China, he linked the offer to a potentially onerous demand: that Europe renounce its main legal defense against low-priced Chinese exports.

The New York Times

As a member of a religious order he was absolved from answering to secular authority, and he neatly avoided submitting to one particularly onerous demand made by China's new rulers, who called themselves the Qing dynasty.

The New York Times - Arts

PAGE A25 Business CHINA'S OFFERING TO EUROPE COMES WITH A FEW STRINGS Premier Wen Jiabao of China offered to help Europe, but he linked the offer to a potentially onerous demand: that Europe renounce its main legal defense against low-priced Chinese exports.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The new rules affecting permits for protests and marches include details that impose onerous demands on dissent.

The Guardian - Opinion

One whines about a boyfriend's onerous demands for sex, even while reporting that it was the best sex she'd ever had.

The New York Times - Books

It also worried that it would set a bad precedent, encouraging Microsoft to make even more onerous demands in the future.

Harvard Business Review

The reversal from Washington means that Oklahoma's public schools are once again free from the most onerous demands of No Child Left Behind.

The Washington Post

For the Russian literary theorist Mikhail Bakhtin, in his book on the grotesque comedy of Rabelais, the "carnivalesque" body champions "the life of the belly and the reproductive organs" against the onerous demands of faith and duty.

Independent

Alas, the increasingly onerous demands on our time often compromise our desire to see a puzzle be fully explored in the designated week, and any unfinished discussions or other loose ends tend to get abandoned as a new puzzle arrives.

The New York Times

The stakes were unprecedented, with owners claiming huge financial losses amid escalating player salaries, and a union standing fast against what it saw as onerous demands by management for salary rollbacks.

The New York Times - Sports

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

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "onerous demand", ensure the context clearly establishes who is making the demand and who is burdened by it. This clarifies the power dynamic and impact of the demand.

Common error

Avoid using "onerous demand" for trivial requests. The term implies a significant burden, so reserve it for situations where the demand genuinely creates hardship or difficulty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "onerous demand" functions primarily as a noun phrase where the adjective "onerous" modifies the noun "demand". It describes a specific type of demand characterized by its burdensome or oppressive nature. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "onerous demand" is a grammatically correct and usable expression in English that describes a burdensome or oppressive request. Ludwig AI validates its proper usage. While relatively rare, it appears primarily in news and media contexts, with some usage in academia and science. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure the context warrants its strong implication of difficulty or hardship. Alternatives like "burdensome request" or "heavy obligation" can provide similar meaning with slightly different emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

burdensome request

Replaces "onerous" with "burdensome", emphasizing the weight of the request.

heavy obligation

Substitutes both words to highlight the compulsory nature and difficulty.

oppressive requirement

Uses "oppressive" to suggest a more forceful and less reasonable burden.

exacting stipulation

Emphasizes the precision and rigor of the condition being demanded.

stringent condition

Highlights the strictness and inflexibility of the demand.

difficult imposition

Focuses on the act of forcing the demand on someone.

unreasonable expectation

Suggests the demand is unfair and exceeds what is logical or fair.

taxing requirement

Highlights the draining effect the demand has on resources or energy.

grueling prerequisite

Implies the demand is a necessary condition that is exceptionally challenging.

arduous condition

Emphasizes the effort and difficulty involved in meeting the demand.

FAQs

How to use "onerous demand" in a sentence?

You can use "onerous demand" to describe a request or requirement that is burdensome or difficult to fulfill. For example, "The contract included an "onerous demand" for immediate payment."

What can I say instead of "onerous demand"?

You can use alternatives like "burdensome request", "heavy obligation", or "oppressive requirement" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What makes a demand "onerous"?

A demand is considered "onerous" when it imposes a significant burden, difficulty, or hardship on the person or entity required to meet it. It often involves substantial effort, cost, or sacrifice.

Is "onerous demand" a formal or informal expression?

"Onerous demand" is generally considered a formal expression, suitable for professional, academic, or news-related contexts. It is less common in casual conversation.