Ponderous
/ˈpɑːndərəs/
adjectiveC1
Definition
Ponderous describes something that is very heavy or large, making it move slowly or seem awkward. It can also mean something that feels slow or boring because it is difficult to understand or too serious.
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See It in Action
Very heavy and slow in movement or weight
- •The ponderous elephant moved slowly through the forest.
- •He carried a ponderous suitcase that was hard to lift.
- •The ponderous steps of the giant made the ground shake.
Slow, serious, or boring in style or thought
- •The lecture was so ponderous that many students fell asleep.
- •Her writing style is ponderous and difficult to enjoy.
- •The movie felt ponderous because it was too long and slow.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of 'ponderous' like 'heavy' (A1 word), but much bigger or slower—like a big, slow elephant instead of a small rock
- ✓Picture a giant, heavy book that is hard to carry and takes a long time to read
- ✓It's the feeling when you have to carry a large, heavy bag that makes you tired and slow
- ✓Sounds like 'PON-der-ous' → imagine a POND full of large, slow-moving turtles—slow and heavy in water
- ✓Think of a slow, big animal like an elephant or a hippo moving carefully because of its weight
- ✓NOT like 'light' (easy to carry or fast), 'ponderous' is the opposite—heavy and slow
- ✓NOT like 'fast' or 'quick,' 'ponderous' means slow and heavy in movement or thought
- ✓NOT just 'boring,' but 'ponderous' often means boring because something is slow, serious, or hard to understand
Try Other Words
- •Heavy: very weighty (Use when focusing only on physical weight)
- •Slow: moving or happening without speed (Use when focusing on movement or time)
- •Awkward: difficult to move or use (Use when focusing on clumsiness)
- •Bulky: large and hard to carry (Use when focusing on size and difficulty to move)
Unboxing
- •Prefix/root/suffix: 'ponder-' (from Latin 'ponderare' meaning to weigh) + suffix '-ous' (meaning full of or having the quality of)
- •Etymology: From Latin 'ponderosus,' meaning heavy or weighty
- •Historical development: Used since the 15th century in English to describe physical weight and later extended to describe slow or dull qualities
- •Modern usage: Used to describe heavy objects, slow movements, or dull, serious writing or speech
Reflect & Connect
•Can something be physically light but still feel ponderous? How?
•How does the idea of ponderous help us understand things that are difficult to carry or understand?
Fill in the blanks
1.The ponderous box was so ___ that it took two people to carry it.
2.His speech was so ponderous that the audience felt ___ and bored.
3.Unlike a quick runner, the ponderous animal moved very ___ across the field.
4.The book was ponderous because it was both heavy and ___ to read.
5.She struggled to lift the ponderous suitcase because of its ___ and size.
6.When something is ponderous, it often feels ___ and slow in action or thought.
7.The ponderous steps caused the floor to ___ with each movement.