overwhelming responsibility

USAGE SUMMARY

"overwhelming responsibility" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a feeling of being overly burdened with tasks or obligations that are hard to cope with. For example, "John is feeling an overwhelming responsibility to support his aging parents financially."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

Employing people who do, who have much more at stake, is at times an overwhelming responsibility".

The New Yorker

"I'm certain she feels overwhelming responsibility to report what she considers to be right or wrong," Mr. Domin said.

The New York Times

"Our members really felt an overwhelming responsibility to both the community of Portsmouth and future members of the congregation to preserve the building," Mr. Pettis said.

The New York Times

The failure was "the inevitable result of rich countries refusing adequately and fairly to shoulder their overwhelming responsibility", said Christian Aid.

The Guardian

The failure over the past few decades to prepare for this kind of inevitable disaster bears the overwhelming responsibility, not the number of national guardsmen to pluck survivors and shoot looters.

The New York Times

Referring to the approximately 500 days he had already spent in federal custody, Mr. Slatkin said, "Not one of these days has gone by without feeling the overwhelming responsibility for the harms I caused these people".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

Sihanouk saw it partly in his own person and in the monarchy: "I carry on my shoulders the overwhelming responsibilities of 16 centuries of royalty," he said in 1952.

The Guardian

The overwhelming responsibilities of unpaid work also keep women out of the paid labor force and hold back economies from growth.

Huffington Post

It seems that for some people who live day-to-day with overwhelming responsibilities, it is still regarded as better than available alternatives.

BMC Health Services Research

The limited opportunities for supervision and overwhelming responsibilities shouldered by health professionals are crucial challenges in respect of human resources management.

BMC Health Services Research

Early use of professional services not only assists in avoiding institutional care but releases family caregivers from strains and overwhelming responsibilities, as well as relieving care dependents from feelings of guilt.

BMC Health Services Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "overwhelming responsibility" when you want to emphasize the magnitude and burden of a particular duty or obligation.

Common error

Avoid using "overwhelming responsibility" when a simpler term like "major task" or "important duty" would suffice. Overusing intensifiers can weaken your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "overwhelming responsibility" functions as a noun phrase, where "overwhelming" modifies the noun "responsibility". It indicates a significant and burdensome obligation. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "overwhelming responsibility" is a commonly used phrase that effectively conveys the weight and burden of significant obligations. Ludwig AI confirms that its use is grammatically correct and widely accepted. As shown by Ludwig, it appears frequently in News & Media, Scientific and Formal & Business contexts. When using this phrase, it's important to consider whether the intensity is warranted or if a simpler term would be more appropriate. Alternatives like "immense burden of accountability" or "significant duty to perform" can provide a slightly different nuance. Overall, "overwhelming responsibility" remains a powerful way to express the magnitude of one's duties.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

immense burden of accountability

Emphasizes the weight of being held accountable.

significant duty to perform

Focuses on the obligation to carry out a task.

substantial obligation to fulfill

Emphasizes the importance of completing an obligation.

considerable onus of execution

Highlights the burden of carrying out or implementing something.

onerous task to undertake

Stresses the difficult nature of the task.

profound sense of commitment

Stresses a deep feeling of dedication.

critical imperative to address

Highlights the urgent need to deal with something.

heavy demand for contribution

Highlights the strong expectation to contribute.

tremendous pressure to deliver

Focuses on the stress associated with achieving a result.

vast liability to manage

Highlights the extensive scope of what needs to be managed.

FAQs

How can I use "overwhelming responsibility" in a sentence?

You can use "overwhelming responsibility" to describe a situation where someone feels heavily burdened by their obligations. For example, "She felt an overwhelming responsibility to care for her family after her father's accident".

What are some alternatives to "overwhelming responsibility"?

You can use alternatives like "immense burden of accountability", "heavy demand for contribution", or "substantial obligation to fulfill" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "overwhelming responsibility" or "great responsibility"?

While both are correct, "overwhelming responsibility" suggests a greater sense of burden and magnitude than "great responsibility". The choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

What's the difference between "overwhelming responsibility" and "overwhelming responsibilities"?

"Overwhelming responsibility" refers to a single, particularly burdensome obligation, while "overwhelming responsibilities" refers to multiple duties that collectively create a sense of being burdened.