ponderous

[pon-der-uhs]

adjective

1. of great weight; heavy; massive.

2. awkward or unwieldy.

   He carried a ponderous burden on his back.

3. dull and labored.

   a ponderous dissertation.

   Synonyms: tedious, dreary, boring, heavy
   Antonyms: exciting, lively

ponderous

/ ˌpɒndəˈrɒsɪtɪ, ˈpɒndərəs /

adjective

1. of great weight; heavy; huge

2. (esp of movement) lacking ease or lightness; awkward, lumbering, or graceless

3. dull or laborious

   a ponderous oration

Other Word Forms

• ponderously adverb
• ponderousness noun
• ponderosity noun
• nonponderosity noun
• nonponderous adjective
• nonponderously adverb
• nonponderousness noun
• overponderous adjective
• overponderously adverb
• overponderousness noun
• unponderous adjective
• unponderously adverb
• unponderousness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of ponderous¹

1375–1425; late Middle English (< Middle French ponderos, pondereuse ) < Latin ponderōsus. See ponder, -ous

Word History and Origins

Origin of ponderous¹

C14: from Latin ponderōsus of great weight, from pondus weight

Example Sentences

Despite Chelsea's territorial dominance, their fans began to grow frustrated at their ponderous passing and failure to put Wolves to the sword.

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The early scenes have a certain ponderous solemnity as two hunter-warrior-predator brothers from the Yautja race fight for honor with weapons that combine the clank of all things medieval with modern pizzazz.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

It pokes around in some of the great mysteries of humanity — what gives a life meaning or purpose? — in a way that feels lyrical, lovely and never unduly ponderous.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Liverpool even felt the frustrations of their own supporters on occasions, when build-up was ponderous and they looked short of ideas to penetrate United's unyielding defence.

Read more on BBC

The artist-turned-filmmaker even incorporates a striking image from one of his oils — that of a translucent horselike creature — as an enigmatic visual motif that proves more ponderous than poetic.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• labored 
• monotonous 
• plodding www.thesaurus.com
• stilted 
• stodgy 
• stuffy