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as in boring
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest fell asleep during the ponderous speech

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How does the adjective ponderous differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of ponderous are cumbersome, cumbrous, heavy, and weighty. While all these words mean "having great weight," ponderous implies having great weight because of size and massiveness with resulting great inertia.

ponderous elephants in a circus parade

How do cumbrous and cumbersome relate to one another, in the sense of ponderous?

Both 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

When could heavy be used to replace ponderous?

The synonyms heavy and ponderous are sometimes interchangeable, but heavy implies that something has greater density or thickness than the average of its kind or class.

a heavy child for his age

When is it sensible to use weighty instead of ponderous?

In some situations, the words weighty and ponderous are roughly equivalent. However, weighty suggests having actual and not just relative weight.

a load of weighty boxes

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ponderous Plzen were no different, pressing well in phases, but rarely troubled by a United attack that passed the ball in a ponderous fashion and rarely attempted to run in behind. Carl Anka, The Athletic, 13 Dec. 2024 But the seven-episode season, written entirely by Gunn and directed by Matt Peters and Sam Liu, is as playful and irreverent as most load-bearing franchise entrants are ponderous and weighted down by obligations to a larger narrative. Alison Herman, Variety, 5 Dec. 2024 Acclimating to the vehicle’s size only takes minutes (numerous cameras aid low-speed maneuvering), and the 6000-pound SUV never feels intimidating or ponderous. Michael Harley, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2024 These questions are left unasked in favor of broad, ponderous statements about good versus evil. Marya E. Gates, IndieWire, 21 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for ponderous 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ponderous
Adjective
  • The entire family is outraged, but Peter insists that the film is slow, boring and essentially, overrated.
    Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
  • Recently, Jennifer Lopez has been a big fan of natural manicures, which are anything but boring.
    Lea Hüttinger, Glamour, 20 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin launched its massive new rocket into space Thursday, successfully reaching orbit on its very first test flight.
    Ivana Saric, Axios, 16 Jan. 2025
  • The massive estate, reportedly snapped up by casino tycoon Steve Wynn, sold for a record $108 million in the Centennial State with Red Mountain views.
    Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • In a moment when Liston was hurling a clumsy punch and his balance was susceptible, Ali threw what looked like a swiping right graze at his opponent’s head.
    Mikal Gilmore, Rolling Stone, 17 Jan. 2025
  • Even observers who think the outlook for China’s economy is less dire agree that its growth is slowing and will be constrained by structural challenges and a clumsy policymaking process.
    Jude Blanchette, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • The Israel Defense Forces have been slow to withdraw from their position in the southern part of Lebanon despite a Nov. 27 ceasefire deal that gave the Lebanese Army and the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon exclusive jurisdiction over the region.
    Timothy Nerozzi, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 18 Jan. 2025
  • Randle has often been slow to close out on 3-point shooters and inattentive off the ball.
    Jon Krawczynski, The Athletic, 18 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Only complex tasks requiring heavy computational resources would be sent to remote servers.
    Wei Duan, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
  • Humor is an extremely useful and common coping strategy that can help some process such a heavy and traumatic event, according to Marni Amsellem, a licensed psychologist.
    Rachel Hale, USA TODAY, 23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Listen to Marsden recall the awkward encounter in the clip above.
    EW.com, EW.com, 24 Jan. 2025
  • In his defense, the Anti-Defamation League tweeted from X that Musk’s gesture seemed to be an awkward expression of enthusiasm.
    Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • In addition to her tiring routine of delivering disappointment, Hadoula also has to contend with her own troubles in the form of a vision of her deceased mother (Maria Protoppapa).
    Ryan Swen, Variety, 18 Jan. 2025
  • Image Piloting a firefighting aircraft is sweaty, tiring work, Mr. Mattiacci said.
    Yan Zhuang, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • This bag has a subtly vintage silhouette and fits everything without being cumbersome.
    Annie Blackman, Allure, 24 Jan. 2025
  • Innovative Blending: Vintage Cognacs are unusual because the requirements to certify a vintage bottling are cumbersome.
    Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ponderous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ponderous. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

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