ponderous
gb/pˈɑndɚəs/ us/pˈɑndɚəs/
C1
Inglese
~ 9300
Accezioni
0 accezioni
adjective
formal
C1
property
1
boring and overly heavy in style
Describes speech, writing, or a performance that is very slow and boring, and feels heavy or hard to get through.
Schema d'uso:
a ponderous [speech/text/performance]
Errore comune:
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.
Sinonimi
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.)
Contrari
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.)
Collocazioni
ponderous lecture
|ponderous prose
|ponderous speech
|ponderous style
|ponderous bureaucracy
|ponderous dialogue
Temi
communication
|education
|culture
|arts_entertainment
Esempi
- The professor’s ponderous lecture left half the class struggling to stay awake.
- Critics complained that the film’s middle section was ponderous and badly in need of editing.
- 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.
Esempi per chi studia
- The book is very long and ponderous, so it is hard to finish.
- Everyone listened in silence, but the ponderous speech made them tired.
- 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.
adjective
formal
C1
property
2
very heavy and unwieldy
Very heavy, big, and hard to move in a quick or easy way.
Schema d'uso:
a ponderous [object/step/body]
Errore comune:
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.
Sinonimi
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.)
Contrari
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.)
Collocazioni
ponderous bulk
|ponderous body
|ponderous footsteps
|ponderous machine
|ponderous elephant
Temi
physical_world
|movement
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Esempi
- The movers struggled to lift the ponderous oak table up the narrow stairs.
- The old ship’s ponderous hull turned slowly as it left the harbor.
- 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.
Esempi per chi studia
- They pushed the ponderous sofa across the room.
- The truck carried a ponderous block of stone.
- The bear walked with slow, ponderous steps.
- A ponderous metal door closed behind us.
- The animal’s ponderous body moved slowly through the trees.
Grammatica
Forma base
ponderous
IPA
GB/pˈɑndɚəs/
US/pˈɑndɚəs/
Sillabe e accento
pon - der - ous (3 sillabe)
Stress on 1st syllable (pon)
Forme flesse
Adjective
- Base: ponderous
Famiglia di parole
Core family
ponderously
adverb C1
ponderousness
noun
Related words
ponder
verb B2
Advanced or less common
ponderable
adjective
imponderable
adjective
Espressioni
Ancora nessuna espressione collegata a questa voce.