First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
ponderous
adjective pon·der·ous \ˈpän-d(ə-)rəs\
: very boring or dull
: slow or awkward because of weight and size
Full Definition of PONDEROUS
1
: of very great weight
2
: unwieldy or clumsy because of weight and size
3
: oppressively or unpleasantly dull : lifeless <ponderous prose>
— pon·der·ous·ly adverb
— pon·der·ous·ness noun
See ponderous defined for English-language learners
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Origin of PONDEROUS
Middle English, from Anglo-French ponderus, from Latin ponderosus, from ponder-, pondus weight
Related to PONDEROUS
- Synonyms
- arid, colorless, drab, dreary, drudging, dry, dull, dusty, flat, heavy, ho-hum, humdrum, jading, jejune, leaden, mind-numbing, monochromatic, monotonous, numbing, old, pedestrian, boring, slow, stale, stodgy, stuffy, stupid, tame, tedious, tiresome, tiring, uninteresting, wearisome, weary, wearying
- Antonyms
- absorbing, engaging, engrossing, gripping, interesting, intriguing, involving, riveting
Synonym Discussion of PONDEROUS
heavy, weighty, ponderous, cumbrous, cumbersome mean having great weight. heavy implies that something has greater density or thickness than the average of its kind or class <a heavy child for his age>. weighty suggests having actual and not just relative weight <a load of weighty boxes>. ponderous implies having great weight because of size and massiveness with resulting great inertia <ponderous elephants in a circus parade>. cumbrous and cumbersome imply heaviness and bulkiness that make for difficulty in grasping, moving, carrying, or manipulating <wrestled with the cumbrous furniture> <early cameras were cumbersome and inconvenient>.
PONDEROUSLY Defined for Kids
ponderous
adjective pon·der·ous \ˈpän-də-rəs\
Definition of PONDEROUS for Kids
1
: very heavy <a ponderous stone>
2
: slow or clumsy because of weight and size <The elephant moved with ponderous steps.>
3
: unpleasantly dull <a ponderous speech>
— pon·der·ous·ly adverb
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