ponderous
adjective C2
Plain meaning
slow, heavy, and dull
Exam-register meaning
laboured, excessively heavy, or lacking lightness in style, movement, or argument
In context
naturalThe film felt ponderous despite its interesting subject.
examThe report’s ponderous prose obscures several important findings.
Common collocations
ponderous proseponderous styleponderous argument
Watch out
Ponderous is not the same as thoughtful; it usually criticises heaviness or dullness.
Word family
ponderously (adverb)ponderousness (noun)