Ponderous | Definition of ponderous by Merriam-Webster

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

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Origin of PONDEROUS

Middle English, from Anglo-French ponderus, from Latin ponderosus, from ponder-, pondus weight

First Known Use: 15th century

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>.