Ponderous Meaning in English
word
ˈpɑndɝəs
PAHN-der-uss
pˈɒndəɹəs
PON-duh-russ
Definition
Something that is ponderous is very heavy, moves slowly, or is dull and boring due to being overly serious or lengthy.
Usage & Nuances
Ponderous is formal and literary, often describing things (like books, speeches, or objects) that feel weighty physically or mentally. Commonly partnered with negative feelings: a 'ponderous lecture' is boring, not just long. 'Ponderous' for movement implies slowness and awkwardness.
Spanish: pesado - tediosoPortuguese (BR): pesado - enfadonhoPortuguese (PT): pesado - maçadorChinese (Simplified): 笨重的 - 沉闷的Chinese (Traditional): 笨重的 - 沉悶的Hindi: भारी - उबाऊArabic: ثقيل - مملBengali: ভারী - জড় - ক্লান্তিকরRussian: тяжеловесный - громоздкий - скучныйJapanese: 重々しい - 動きが遅い - 退屈なVietnamese: nặng nề - chậm chạp - buồn tẻKorean: 무거운 - 둔한 - 지루한Turkish: ağır - hantal - sıkıcıUrdu: بھاری - سست - بوجھلIndonesian: berat - lamban - membosankan
Example Sentences
The old elephant was slow and ponderous.
basic
The book was too ponderous for children to enjoy.
basic
His speech was long and ponderous.
basic
The movie’s ponderous pacing made it hard to stay awake.
natural
He lifted the ponderous box with great effort.
natural
The meeting felt increasingly ponderous as it dragged on.
natural