burdensome
adjective C1
Plain meaning
causing difficulty, worry, or heavy responsibility
Exam-register meaning
In academic or exam contexts, it means causing difficulty, worry, or heavy responsibility, usually in a more formal register.
In context
naturalHis response sounded burdensome, so the conversation became difficult.
examThe passage presents a burdensome assessment of the policy’s wider consequences.
Common collocations
a burdensome responseburdensome behavioura burdensome situation
Watch out
Do not use “very burdensome” automatically; some advanced adjectives already carry a strong meaning or need a more natural intensifier.
Word family
burdensomeness (noun, where natural)burdensomely (adverb, where natural)