PONDEROUS Synonyms: 206 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

ponderous

adjective

ˈpän-d(ə-)rəs

Definition of ponderous

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

as in massive

having great weight those ponderous pachyderms more commonly known as elephants

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in clumsy

difficult to use or operate especially because of size, weight, or design lugged a ponderous movie camera all over China

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

The couple just stole $10 million — a theft consequential enough to set the entire story in motion, yet also too boring to depict outside a brief flashback?

— Ben Travers, IndieWire, 15 July 2026
The boring games are usually like watching paint dry and their very dedicated fans are only there for the massive parties.

— Ticked Off, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 July 2026

Definition of boring

Adjective

County officials are asking the board for the South Fulton Municipal Regional Jail Authority to approve a resolution authorizing the authority to issue bonds for the massive project that could take a decade to complete.

— Reed Williams, AJC.com, 17 July 2026
The potential spread of massive water and electricity-consuming data centers into Florida has sparked fierce opposition from thousands of residents and drawn dividing lines between its most powerful politicians.

— Alexandra Phelps, Miami Herald, 17 July 2026

Definition of massive

Adjective

But more broadly, as streaming became the dominant way audiences consume entertainment, a shelf full of stuff started to look like a relic of a clumsier time that most folks were happy to forget.

— Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 10 July 2026
The decision last fall followed clumsy discussion by Kennedy’s dubiously qualified advisors, who make up the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

— Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 10 July 2026

Definition of clumsy

Adjective

Still, as the game wore on to the waning moments, both teams were visibly sapped of energy and moving at a slower pace, including Haaland, who faded late in the game, was subbed out at the 105-minute mark and replaced by Jorgen Strand Larsen.

— Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 12 July 2026
The question is whether the stock price leaves enough room if that recovery is slower, messier, or pricier than hoped.

— Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026

Definition of slow

Adjective

About a year’s worth of rain has already fallen in southern Texas and while water levels have receded in some areas, officials urge residents to remain vigilant while heavy showers continue in areas already inundated by torrential rain.

— Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
The sisters’ collective upper limb development also suggests high-intensity, repetitive actions like holding a heavy weapon or pulling a bowstring.

— Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 17 July 2026

Definition of heavy

Adjective

Experts note that old brand safety rules are being recalibrated; the key is for brands to align authentically with the show's energy without appearing awkward.

— Toni Fitzgerald, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026
Suki, a vocal Black woman with an at times vulgar persona, whereas Althoff, a white woman, gained a reputation as an awkward, seemingly timid interviewer on her The Really Good Podcast.

— Meagan Jordan, VIBE.com, 10 July 2026

Definition of awkward

Adjective

The 90 minutes or more will be highly physical and tiring, and only one will remain standing at the end.

— Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 1 July 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

Definition of tiring

Adjective

That access is being strangled by an old and cumbersome permitting process for electrical transmission.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 13 July 2026
Before that, an early version relied on a physical switch on the side of the ECU, a cumbersome setup that meant popping the hood, removing trim, and flipping a switch.

— Peter Nelson, ArsTechnica, 10 July 2026

Definition of cumbersome

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“Ponderous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ponderous. Accessed 17 Jul. 2026.

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