onus

noun

ˈō-nəs How to pronounce onus (audio)
Definition of onusnext
1
as in stain
a mark of guilt or disgrace hoping to avoid the onus of failure by lowering expectations ahead of time

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2
as in blame
responsibility for wrongdoing or failure he perpetually tries to shift the onus for any mistakes onto other team members

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of onus Having Pugh playing a character who is, by her very nature, hesitant to reveal her truth is an interesting choice that puts the onus on everybody around her who doesn’t recognize what is so obvious to viewers. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2026 For the rest of the industry, that could put the onus on an array of nascent technologies, from unproven launch vehicles to a troubled astronaut spacecraft under development by Boeing that previously malfunctioned with two NASA astronauts aboard. — Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2026 The city is already facing an earlier lawsuit over its rollout of the tax from a group of homeowners who contend that City Hall didn't do enough to determine who would pay the tax and instead put the onus on homeowners to figure it out. — ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026 That puts the onus on Hal, the ostensible hero, to protect the innocent from the explosive fallout of an interplanetary dispute that has nothing to do with them. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 13 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for onus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for onus
  1. stain
  2. blame
  3. stigma
  4. guilt
  5. taint
  6. blot
  7. shame
Noun
  • Price testified that an initial test indicated the stain could be blood, but investigators could not find the swab for further laboratory testing.
    — Leigh Egan, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
  • As a result, Barry served six months in prison, and though he was later reelected as mayor, his drug use left an irremediable stain on his reputation and raised larger questions about misgovernance and corruption.
    — Stephanie Wambugu, Vulture, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of stain
Noun
  • Trump administration officials and allies are starting to debate who will shoulder the blame if Republicans perform poorly in November.
    — Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Congressman John James met for their second and final debate before Election Day on Thursday night, this time trading blame for the state's condition.
    — Elle Meyers, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of blame
Noun
  • Keeping children out of school due to lice also contributes to social stigma.
    — Emily J. C. Wong, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The stigma of having an old or unrelated criminal record can lead to being screened out of the hiring process entirely.
    — Maha Jweied, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of stigma
Noun
  • Assane proclaims his innocence, but everything points to his guilt.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Maduro called the allegations false, while his wife, Cilia Flores, also denied guilt.
    — Michael R. Sisak, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of guilt
Noun
  • Even though Thiam denied knowledge of it and was cleared of involvement, the taint of the scandal led to his ouster.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Aug. 2026
  • On top of worrying about making great wine, European producers will now have to mitigate against smoke taint, save their grapes from frost, and consider how to future-proof vineyards in a rapidly changing climate.
    — Kate Dingwall, Bon Appetit Magazine, 31 July 2026
Definition of taint
Noun
  • Remove the wings from the refrigerator and blot away any visible moisture with paper towels.
    — Monti Carlo, AJC.com, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Act+Acre Microfiber Hair Towel Act+Acre’s popular flat towel comes with instructions for a specific technique —blot and squeeze, no rubbing.
    — Valeriya Chupinina, Vogue, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of blot
Noun
  • The French gêne par procuration delegates discomfort, while the German Fremdschämen means foreign shame.
    — Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • While the imposing box set itself is a portable 12-pound film school and an instant status symbol on your shelf, there’s no shame in clicking over for a preview.
    — Maira Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of shame

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Cite this Entry

“Onus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/onus. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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