Definition of ponderousnext
1
as in boring
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest fell asleep during the ponderous speech

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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

Example 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 The Government Accountability Office documented the ongoing problem in a recent report, which noted that controller attrition and the agency’s ponderous hiring procedures contribute to the long-term problem. Colleen Mondor, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2026 Attacking patterns are centralised around Rogers, yet the recent ponderous tempo has impeded quick passes into his feet. Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026 Group plans can align when the feelings-led Moon in your social zone opposes ponderous Jupiter in your upbeat 5th house. Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 13 Mar. 2026 There is the ponderous march of normalcy and daily life. Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ponderous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ponderous
Adjective
  • Far fewer people stay responsible when the work turns boring, unclear or inconvenient, and that's precisely when ownership surfaces.
    Somdutta Singh, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • Monocultures can be boring, but on the flipside, a huge collection of individual species looks like a busy bowl of potpourri.
    Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 June 2026
Adjective
  • Atlanta Braves at Truist Park A massive Braves block party will take place in Truist Park on Saturday, with flyovers, baseball, fireworks and more.
    Irene Wright, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • Artist Stan Herd created a massive quarter-acre Algerian flag earthwork near the Lied Center on west campus.
    Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 3 July 2026
Adjective
  • Such a feature would neatly get around the need for clumsy remote control sessions to interact with AI agents running on a distant Mac.
    Paul Monckton, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • The head coach was clumsy in his response, saying — in effect — that the player is better suited to being an impact substitute and taking advantage of tiring opposition defenders.
    Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 26 June 2026
Adjective
  • What to expect over the weekend Though Friday was expected to be the slowest day of the competition, the atmosphere at Cal Expo was anything but dull.
    Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 27 June 2026
  • Some residents are calling for civilian volunteers to help clear debris, frustrated by the slow pace of the rescue operations.
    Osmary Hernández, CNN Money, 27 June 2026
Adjective
  • The lightweight, double-layered design offers extra coverage without feeling heavy, while the stretchy waistband and flowy design keep it comfortable all day.
    Taylor Jean Stephan, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
  • Look for a dense melon that's heavy for its size because it'll be packed with more juice, more sugar and more flavor.
    Veronica Bravo, USA Today, 3 July 2026
Adjective
  • Human bodies were like animals’ The few medical instruments of the revolutionary era were heavy in the hand, awkward in use and imprecise to maneuver.
    Katherine Ott, The Conversation, 2 July 2026
  • In its place are itty-bitty bands that still keep your flats or heels in place, just with less of a chance of awkward tan lines.
    Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 1 July 2026
Adjective
  • The head coach was clumsy in his response, saying — in effect — that the player is better suited to being an impact substitute and taking advantage of tiring opposition defenders.
    Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 26 June 2026
  • The chassis exhibits little flex, the buttons feel crisp and responsive, and the scroll wheel offers enough resistance to feel deliberate without becoming tiring.
    Sascha Brodsky, PC Magazine, 21 June 2026
Adjective
  • Those habits feel cumbersome when a technology is evolving by the month.
    Shannon McKeen, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
  • That tendency, which may have been with us since the Stone Age, today serves the interests of our cumbersome friends in the Florida Everglades.
    David Merritt Johns, The Atlantic, 27 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Ponderous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ponderous. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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