onerous obligation

USAGE SUMMARY

"onerous obligation" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe a duty or responsibility that is burdensome or difficult to fulfill. For example: "The contract included an onerous obligation that required extensive reporting." Alternative expressions include "burdensome duty" and "heavy responsibility."

✓ Grammatically correct

Formal & Business

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Christopher Jeans QC, for sports management firm Proactive, replied: "Bearing in mind footballers train in the morning only, it's not what the man in the street would consider an onerous obligation".

Independent

The Kaddish is in no way an onerous obligation, as Wieseltier seems to imply; for those who attend all daily prayer services it is simply an invitation to recite one of the prayers aloud.

The New York Times - Books

Giving gifts for big occasions is an inescapable, and increasingly onerous, obligation for hundreds of millions of China's farmers.In this section Two weddings, two funerals, no fridge Rarer than pandas Creative destruction ReprintsMuch attention has been paid recently to gift-giving in urban China.

The Economist

In Britain, reducing carbon dioxide emissions was one of the few policies supported by political parties of both the right and left, which both accepted that climate change was a serious problem and saw clean technology investment as a growth opportunity rather than an onerous obligation.

The New York Times

With the onerous obligation to make some sort of return, given the cost of the Games, there is constant pressure for commercial viability: because of the cost of improving infrastructure, the target for 35% affordable housing, not to mention the strict design codes, anything beyond the market norm will be difficult to achieve.

The Guardian - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

In theory, REITs are less likely to suffer financial distress because they rely much less on debt-financing, with its onerous obligations to pay interest.

The Economist

For Greece, the state of entry for most of those who seek asylum in Europe, this leads to onerous obligations, which the troubled state has failed to discharge.

The Guardian - Opinion

Onerous obligations and services tended to disappear as shortages of rural labour made themselves felt; the transition from servile to rental tenures was largely completed in the 15th century.

Encyclopedia Britannica

They include "schuldenbremse," literally "debt brake," and "eurobond," a reference to proposals for the European Union to issue bonds to cover the debt of euro-using nations; Germans fear that such bonds would place onerous obligations on them.

The New York Times

"India's objective is to establish an effective [agreement] based on climate justice, which distinguishes between obligations of the rich countries, based on their historical responsibility in causing climate change, and the less onerous obligations of the developing world," Ashoka Lavasa, India's secretary to the ministry of environment, told The Independent, weighing his words carefully.

Independent

Other deserts are uniformly negative: burdens, fines, booby prizes, contempt, dishonors, onerous obligations, penalties, condemnation, hate, etc.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the plural form "onerous obligations" when referring to a set of multiple requirements or conditions

Common error

Since "onerous" already implies that something is difficult and burdensome, avoid using it with other intensity modifiers like "very hard" or "difficult onerous obligation", as this creates a tautology

Linguistic Context

The phrase "onerous obligation" functions as a nominal phrase, where the adjective "onerous" modifies the noun "obligation". In linguistic structures identified by Ludwig, it often serves as the direct object of a sentence or the subject of a passive construction, highlighting the impact of a specific duty on an entity.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Formal & Business

45%

News & Media

35%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "onerous obligation" is a sophisticated and formally correct phrase used to denote responsibilities that are significantly burdensome. Ludwig AI confirms its status as a valid expression primarily found in authoritative news and professional documentation. While it is less common in casual conversation, its precision in legal and business registers makes it an invaluable tool for writers who need to convey the gravity of a requirement. When using it, ensure the context warrants such a heavy tone and consider using alternatives like "burdensome duty" if a slightly lower level of formality is needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

burdensome duty

Uses a more common adjective while maintaining the sense of weight

heavy responsibility

Less formal and emphasizes the personal accountability involved

stringent requirement

Focuses on the strictness of the rules rather than the difficulty of the task

taxing commitment

Shifts the focus to the mental or physical effort required over time

unwelcome liability

Introduces a negative connotation of being a disadvantage or debt

crushing mandate

Hyperbolic alternative for when an obligation is overwhelming

excessive encumbrance

Formal legal term focusing on things that hinder progress

demanding proviso

Specific to contractual conditions or stipulations

rigorous undertaking

Focuses on the intense nature of a project or task

strenuous task

Emphasizes the physical or energetic exertion required

FAQs

How do I use "onerous obligation" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a duty that is hard to fulfill, such as: "The new regulations placed an "onerous obligation" on small business owners".

What can I say instead of "onerous obligation"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "burdensome duty", "heavy responsibility" or "stringent requirement".

Is "onerous obligation" a formal phrase?

Yes, it is highly formal and most commonly found in legal, academic and business contexts. For informal speech, "tough job" might be more appropriate.

What is the difference between "onerous obligation" and "heavy burden"?

While both describe something difficult, "onerous obligation" specifically refers to a duty or requirement, whereas "heavy burden" is more general and can refer to emotional or physical weight.