Ponderous describes something that is heavy, unwieldy, and often slow-moving, both literally and figuratively. It can refer to a physical object that is difficult to lift or maneuver due to its weight or bulk. Figuratively, it signifies something dull, labored, and lacking in grace or fluency. A ponderous argument might be overly complex and tiresome, while a ponderous writing style could be marked by excessive detail and a lack of clarity. The word often implies a lack of agility or elegance, making something seem cumbersome and burdensome.
Ponderous meaning with examples
- The antique safe, a ponderous piece of iron and steel, required four men to move it from the house to the waiting truck, straining with each foot of slow progress.
- His presentation, burdened with countless charts and statistics, was ponderous and ultimately lost the audience's attention despite the importance of the subject matter.
- The politician delivered a ponderous speech filled with clichés and platitudes, offering little in the way of concrete solutions or innovative ideas for the ongoing problems.
- Despite the team's best efforts, the bureaucratic process proved ponderous, delaying the project's approval for months with its complex procedures and endless paperwork.
Ponderous Synonyms
awkward burdensome clumsy cumbersome dull heavy laborious oppressive protracted tedious ungainly weightyPonderous Antonyms
agile buoyant easy effortless elegant facile fluent graceful light lively nimble sprightlyPonderous Crossword Answers
5 Letters
HEAVY BULKY
6 Letters
LEADEN LERDYN
7 Letters
WEIGHTY
8 Letters
UNWIELDY
9 Letters
LUMBERING LABORIOUS