burdensome

Burden some is an adjective used to describe something that imposes a heavy burden, obligation, or encumbrance. It can refer to physical weight as well as to non-physical loads such as duties, costs, or regulations. The sense emphasizes difficulty and strain rather than mere existence of a task. The word derives from burden with the suffix -some, and its use dates back to Middle English.

Etymology and sense development reflect a shift from concrete weight to figurative weight. Historically, burdensome described tangible loads carried by persons or animals; over time it broadened to include burdens in administrative, financial, and emotional contexts. The term remains common in both everyday language and formal writing.

Usage and nuance: burdensome frequently appears in legal, bureaucratic, and policy discussions to critique procedures, compliance requirements, taxes, or regulations that are costly or onerous relative to their benefits. It also appears in personal or literary contexts to describe tasks, responsibilities, or expectations that are overly demanding. While similar to synonyms such as onerous or oppressive, burdensome often carries a stronger emphasis on the weight or encumbrance involved, whereas onerous can imply severity or difficulty without necessarily implying weight.

Synonyms and antonyms include onerous, heavy, weighty, burdensome; antonyms include light, easy, manageable. The word is almost always used attributively (burdensome task, burdensome regulations) and is less common as a noun. In discourse, describing something as burdensome can convey critique or concern about unnecessary or excessive demands rather than intrinsic value.