1
as in boring
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest
fell asleep during the ponderous speech
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2
as in massive
having great weight
those ponderous pachyderms more commonly known as elephants
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3
as in clumsy
difficult to use or operate especially because of size, weight, or design
lugged a ponderous movie camera all over China
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as in heaviness
the state or quality of being heavy
the sheer ponderousness of each stone of the huge pyramid makes its construction all the more remarkable
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ponderous
Jessica Garrison, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2025
Too often novels packed with this many ideas sacrifice emotion in favor of mounting a ponderous argument; Norlin instead writes visceral episodes that speak for themselves.
—Joumana Khatib, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2025
The magic of blasting down a wall of water balanced on a few pounds of Styrofoam doesn’t typically translate to the rectangular page; too many efforts feel pompous, ponderous or preening.
—Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Too often novels packed with this many ideas sacrifice emotion in favor of mounting a ponderous argument; Norlin instead writes visceral episodes that speak for themselves.
—Joumana Khatib, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ponderous
Adjective
Long, ponderous trains snake through at regular intervals.
—Jessica Garrison, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2025
Too often novels packed with this many ideas sacrifice emotion in favor of mounting a ponderous argument; Norlin instead writes visceral episodes that speak for themselves.
—Joumana Khatib, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2025
The magic of blasting down a wall of water balanced on a few pounds of Styrofoam doesn’t typically translate to the rectangular page; too many efforts feel pompous, ponderous or preening.
—Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Too often novels packed with this many ideas sacrifice emotion in favor of mounting a ponderous argument; Norlin instead writes visceral episodes that speak for themselves.
—Joumana Khatib, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ponderous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ponderous
Adjective
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Corner infielders Carlos Santana (1B, CLE): The definition of boring and solid.—
Owen Poindexter,
New York Times,
13 June 2025
-
Much happens in the sixth episode, but most of it is pretty boring like the rest of this season.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
Adjective
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DeBlois dials the cuteness quotient back somewhat while giving this massive animal a genuine presence.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
9 June 2025
-
While riggers hung massive lights and construction workers assembled the stage on a grueling day before Tyler Childers‘ June 2024 concert at the United Center, three young locals showed up: Cheryl, Larry and Ted.—
Steve Knopper,
Billboard,
9 June 2025
Adjective
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The clumsy use of voice-overs is more embarrassing still.—
Charles McNulty,
Los Angeles Times,
6 June 2025
-
In the latest, a clumsy but charming young woman in Paris, struggling to become a writer and longing for Jane Austen-style romance, finally has her moment at a Jane Austen Writers’ Residency in England.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
25 May 2025
Adjective
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Strain into a highball glass, while simultaneously adding the club soda together in one slow stream to achieve the fluffy, towering fizz.—
Jillian Dara,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
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And while the Canadian industry made early gains to close a gender gap in the film and TV industry, making strides in advancing and promoting talent from underrepresented Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities has been slower and more incremental.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
9 June 2025
Adjective
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The June 14 parade, featuring heavy tanks and thousands of troops parading through the streets of Washington, marked the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, which coincidentally fell on Trump’s 79th birthday.—
Sudiksha Kochi,
USA Today,
16 June 2025
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But behind the soaring choruses and poetic lyrics was a band — and a frontman — navigating the dizzying highs and heavy costs of fame.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
16 June 2025
Adjective
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Regional flashpoints have now put China in an awkward position.—
Wesley Alexander Hill,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
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At times awkward, but mostly gorgeous, catchy and sincere.—
Darian Sahanaja,
Variety,
15 June 2025
Adjective
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The 35-year-old started 22 of the 24 games Cronenworth missed with a fractured rib and was clearly tiring at the end, going 3-for-30 in his final nine starts.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 June 2025
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Bradley was clearly tiring, having struggled at times defensively in the second half.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
12 May 2025
Adjective
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Trying to clean behind heavy, cumbersome appliances is a different story.—
Quincy Bulin,
Southern Living,
3 June 2025
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During his first term, Trump frequently slammed environmental studies under NEPA as too cumbersome and time-consuming.—
CNN.com,
Mercury News,
29 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ponderous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ponderous. Accessed 22 Jun. 2025.
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