ponderous
gb/pˈɑndɚəs/ us/pˈɑndɚəs/
C1
English
~ 9300
vontatott, nehézkes, ormótlan
C1
FORMAL
1
vontatott
C1
Usage pattern:
a ponderous [speech/text/performance]
The professor’s ponderous lecture left half the class struggling to stay awake.
A professzor vontatott előadása miatt az osztály fele alig tudott ébren maradni.
Critics complained that the film’s middle section was ponderous and badly in need of editing.
A kritikusok szerint a film középső része vontatott volt, és nagyon ráfért volna a vágás.
Her report was accurate but so ponderous that nobody wanted to read past the first page.
He tried to sound serious, but his ponderous speech only bored the audience.
The committee’s ponderous decision‑making process frustrates younger employees.
Learner examples
The book is very long and ponderous, so it is hard to finish.
A könyv nagyon hosszú és vontatott, ezért nehéz befejezni.
Everyone listened in silence, but the ponderous speech made them tired.
Mindenki csendben hallgatta, de a vontatott beszéd elfárasztotta őket.
I like the ideas, but the writer’s style is too ponderous for me.
The meeting was slow and ponderous, and we did not decide anything.
Students complained about the teacher’s ponderous way of explaining things.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think 'ponderous' means 'thoughtful' or 'full of deep ideas' because it looks like 'ponder'. In fact, it usually has a negative meaning: slow, heavy, and boring, especially for speech or writing.
Meaning
boring and overly heavy in style
Collocations
ponderous lecture
|ponderous prose
|ponderous speech
|ponderous style
|ponderous bureaucracy
|ponderous dialogue
Synonyms
tedious (Focuses on being long and boring; slightly more common and neutral than 'ponderous'.)
|
labored (Suggests effortful, unnatural style; less about slowness and more about sounding forced.)
Antonyms
lively (Highlights energetic, engaging communication, which contrasts with the slow heaviness of 'ponderous'.)
|
concise (Opposes the long-winded, heavy quality by emphasizing brief, clear expression.)
Themes
communication
|education
|culture
|arts_entertainment
Definition
Describes speech, writing, or a performance that is very slow and boring, and feels heavy or hard to get through.
Describes speech, writing, or performances that are oppressively dull, slow, and heavy, making them difficult to enjoy or pay attention to.
C1
FORMAL
2
Usage pattern:
a ponderous [object/step/body]
The movers struggled to lift the ponderous oak table up the narrow stairs.
A költöztetők alig bírták felcipelni a nehézkes tölgyfaasztalt a keskeny lépcsőn.
The old ship’s ponderous hull turned slowly as it left the harbor.
A régi hajó nehézkes hajóteste lassan fordult, ahogy elhagyta a kikötőt.
With ponderous steps, the exhausted hiker climbed the last few meters of the hill.
The ponderous machine shook the floor every time it started.
The hippo’s ponderous body slid back into the water with a loud splash.
Learner examples
They pushed the ponderous sofa across the room.
Áttolták a nehézkes kanapét a szobán.
The truck carried a ponderous block of stone.
A teherautó egy nagy, nehezen mozgatható kőtömböt szállított.
The bear walked with slow, ponderous steps.
A ponderous metal door closed behind us.
The animal’s ponderous body moved slowly through the trees.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'ponderous' for anything simply 'big'. It usually also suggests being very heavy, slow, or hard to move, not just large in size.
Meaning
very heavy and unwieldy
Collocations
ponderous bulk
|ponderous body
|ponderous footsteps
|ponderous machine
|ponderous elephant
Synonyms
massive (Focuses more on size and weight; does not always suggest clumsiness like 'ponderous' does.)
|
unwieldy (Emphasizes difficulty in handling or moving, not necessarily great weight alone.)
Antonyms
lightweight (Highlights being light and easy to carry, directly opposing the great weight of 'ponderous'.)
|
nimble (Focuses on quick, light movement, which contrasts with the slow, heavy movement of something ponderous.)
Themes
physical_world
|movement
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Very heavy, big, and hard to move in a quick or easy way.
Very heavy and difficult to move, often so large or weighty that it feels slow, clumsy, or awkward.
Grammar
Dictionary form
ponderous
IPA
GB/pˈɑndɚəs/
US/pˈɑndɚəs/
Syllables & stress
pon - der - ous (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (pon)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: ponderous
Word family
Core family
ponderously
adverb C1
ponderousness
noun
Related words
ponder
verb B2
Advanced or less common
ponderable
adjective
imponderable
adjective
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.