overly onerous

USAGE SUMMARY

'overly onerous' is a correct and usable term in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that is excessively burdensome or oppressive. For example, “The excessive paperwork required by the government was overly onerous.”.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

None of those conditions seem overly onerous, however.

The Guardian - Business

But overly onerous payments are only part of the problem.

The New York Times

Mr. Wright said the accounting limitations had not, by his estimation, been overly onerous.

The New York Times

"There is widespread recognition that business rates have become overly onerous on retail.

The Guardian - Business

He argues that the bail-out and its overly onerous terms amounted to an illegal taking of private property.

The Economist

They are, in the main, not overly onerous, and not irreversible should Israel's security be newly threatened.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

conditions were seen as too onerous.

The New York Times

"It's nothing too onerous.

The Guardian

In recent months, competitors have complained that Microsoft's communications licensing program was overly costly and onerous.

The New York Times

Business leaders also describe the regulations as onerous and overly broad, adding that the rules would drive up costs for all businesses and push some into bankruptcy.

The New York Times

The union also wants the authority to contribute hundreds of millions of dollars more to its pension and health plans and to overhaul a disciplinary system that union officials say is onerous and overly punitive.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "overly onerous", consider the audience's perception. If the burden seems reasonable to some, provide specific details to justify your assessment of it being excessive.

Common error

Avoid using "overly onerous" when a simpler term like "difficult" or "challenging" suffices. Overusing strong language can dilute its impact and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "overly onerous" functions primarily as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. It describes something as being excessively burdensome or oppressive. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples from diverse sources.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "overly onerous" is a valid and relatively common phrase used to describe something excessively burdensome. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and applicability in various contexts, primarily in news, science, and formal business writing. While its meaning is clear, it's crucial to use it judiciously, ensuring that the context justifies the strength of the language. Consider alternatives such as "excessively burdensome" or "unduly difficult" to fine-tune the tone and impact of your message. Be mindful of overstating the burden and always provide specific details to support your assessment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

excessively burdensome

Replaces "onerous" with "burdensome" and "overly" with "excessively" maintaining the same intensity.

unduly burdensome

Substitutes "overly" with "unduly", emphasizing the inappropriateness of the burden.

excessively oppressive

Replaces "onerous" with "oppressive" to highlight the restrictive nature.

unreasonably difficult

Emphasizes the lack of reason in the difficulty imposed.

inordinately taxing

Uses "taxing" to convey the burdensome nature and "inordinately" to emphasize excessiveness.

prohibitively demanding

Highlights how the demands can prevent progress.

unjustifiably burdensome

Adds an element of unfairness to the excessive burden.

unacceptably difficult

Emphasizes that the level of difficulty is not tolerable.

oppressively heavy

Shifts the imagery to a sense of weight and heaviness that restricts.

extremely challenging

Focuses on the intensity of the challenge presented.

FAQs

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

You can use "overly onerous" to describe tasks, regulations, or requirements that are excessively burdensome. For example, "The application process was "prohibitively demanding" and "unnecessarily onerous"".

What's a less formal way to say "overly onerous"?

While "overly onerous" is suitable for formal contexts, you might use phrases like "too difficult", "too much", or "a real pain" in informal settings.

What words are synonyms for "overly onerous"?

Synonyms include "excessively burdensome", "unduly difficult", or "unjustifiably burdensome". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it always negative to describe something as "overly onerous"?

Yes, describing something as "overly onerous" almost always carries a negative connotation, implying that it creates an unreasonable or excessive burden.