Ponderous
Adjective
Definition: Slow or awkward because of weight and size; unwieldy.
Definition: Dull, laborious, or excessively solemn.
Synonyms: Heavy, Bulky, Weighty, Cumbersome, Laborious, Dull, Dreary
Antonyms: Light, Agile, Nimble, Lively, Energetic
- The ponderous furniture was difficult to move.
- His voice had a ponderous and monotonous tone.
- Think of a large, heavy object that is difficult to move, like a ponderous boulder.
- Imagine a person speaking in a slow and monotonous manner, making the conversation feel ponderous.
Etymology:
The word "ponderous" originated from the Latin word "ponderosus," which means weighty or heavy.
Historical Usage:The term has been used in the English language since the late 16th century to describe heavy or burdensome objects and subsequently expanded to include the sense of dullness or laboriousness.
Related Idioms:
"Ponderous prose"
Explanation:Refers to writing that is excessively long, wordy, and lacking in liveliness.
Misconceptions:
Assuming ponderous only refers to physical weight and size.
Explanation:While one meaning of ponderous does relate to heaviness and bulkiness, it also describes something dull, laborious, or excessively serious in nature.