pendulous
Americanadjective
-
hanging down loosely.
pendulous blossoms.
- Synonyms:
- pendent
-
swinging freely; oscillating.
-
vacillating or undecided; wavering.
adjective
Other Word Forms
- pendulously adverb
- pendulousness noun
- semipendulous adjective
- semipendulously adverb
- semipendulousness noun
- unpendulous adjective
- unpendulously adverb
- unpendulousness noun
Etymology
Origin of pendulous
First recorded in 1595–1605, pendulous is from the Latin word pendulus hanging, swinging. See pend, -ulous
Explanation
Walking a path with pendulous trees, the kind with hanging branches, is easier if you're five rather than seven feet tall. Pendulous most commonly refers to branches of trees or bushes, or other plant matter like flowers or leaves that droop or bend downward. You could hide easily in the Amazon rain forest because of all the pendulous plant life. When not referring to plants, pendulous means "saggy" or "droopy."
Vocabulary lists containing pendulous
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
ASVAB Word Knowledge
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Waldron was the epitome of style and urbanity in jazz, from his pendulous brown cigarette dangling from his fingers to his signature coifed natural Black hair that grew into a stately white.
From Washington Post • Sep. 30, 2022
The cyr wheel is paired with Dvořák’s mesmerizing “Slavonic Dance,” while waltzes by Johann Strauss II will match the pendulous rhythm of the trapeze.
From Seattle Times • Nov. 16, 2021
If you won’t consider a slightly shorter tie or a slightly chunkier knot, adding a vest to the mix would go a long way to at least keep that pendulous cravat under wraps.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 18, 2016
A huge pendulous mushroom plunges down from the ceiling, serving as both an acoustic reflector and a space-age chandelier.
From The Guardian • Nov. 4, 2016
Even Havermeyer had lifted his head from his plate to gape at him with his heavy, pendulous jaw.
From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
