Anglais

ponderously

gb/pˈɑndɚˈaʊsli/ us/pˈɑndɚˈaʊsli/
C1 Anglais
Sens
0 sens
adverb C1 property
1

in a heavy, slow way

Slowly and heavily.

Schéma d’usage : [someone/something] moves/walks/lumbers [ponderously]
Erreur fréquente :
Often confused with *pondering* (thinking). *Ponderously* describes the manner of movement or style, not the act of thinking.
Synonymes
heavily (Emphasizes weight or force more than awkward slowness.) | slowly (Neutral about speed; lacks the sense of heaviness.) | cumbersomely (Stresses awkwardness and difficulty in moving.)
Antonymes
lightly (The opposite of heavy movement.) | nimbly (The opposite of slow, awkward movement.) | swiftly (Opposite in speed without the heaviness implication.)
Collocations
move ponderously |walk ponderously |trudge ponderously |lumber ponderously |advance ponderously |roll ponderously |turn ponderously |rise ponderously |plod ponderously |tramp ponderously
Thèmes
movement |daily_life |description
Exemples
  • The old elevator climbed ponderously to the top floor.
  • The bear moved ponderously through the deep snow.
  • The loaded cart rolled ponderously down the hill.
Exemples pédagogiques
  • The man walked ponderously up the stairs.
  • The truck moved ponderously along the road.
adverb formal C1 property
2

in a dull, overly serious way

In a way that is too serious and slow, making it boring.

Schéma d’usage : [someone] speaks/writes/explains [ponderously]
Erreur fréquente :
Does not mean ‘thoughtfully’ (that is *thoughtfully* or *carefully*). It often carries a negative sense: ‘too heavy and boring’.
Synonymes
heavily (Can mean serious or intense, but not necessarily boring or labored.) | pretentiously (Suggests showing off; ponderously stresses heaviness and dullness.) | laboriously (Emphasizes effort and slowness more than self-important tone.)
Antonymes
lightly (Opposite in tone: not heavy or over-serious.) | briskly (Opposite in pace and delivery style.) | engagingly (Opposite effect on the listener/reader (interesting rather than dull).)
Collocations
speak ponderously |write ponderously |explain ponderously |lecture ponderously |ponderously detailed |ponderously worded |ponderously serious |ponderously formal |ponderously long |ponderously earnest
Thèmes
communication |education |writing_style
Exemples
  • He responded ponderously, as if every sentence needed to sound profound.
  • The report is written ponderously, with long sentences and unnecessary jargon.
  • She delivered the joke ponderously, and it fell flat.
Exemples pédagogiques
  • He spoke ponderously during the meeting.
  • The article is written ponderously.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
ponderously
API
GB/pˈɑndɚˈaʊsli/
US/pˈɑndɚˈaʊsli/
Syllabes et accentuation
pon - der - ously (3 syllabes)
Stress on 1st syllable (pon)
Formes du mot
Noun
  • Base: ponderously
  • Plural: ponderouslies
Famille de mots
Forms
ponderouslies noun
Core family
ponderous adjective C1
Related words
ponder verb B2
Advanced or less common
ponderousness noun
Expressions

Aucune expression n’est encore associée à cette entrée.

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