Elephantine
adjective
Very large, heavy, or clumsy.
His elephantine movements drew attention from everyone in the room.

Often appears as...
- elephantine size
- elephantine task
adjective
Looking like an elephant or relating to elephants.
He wore an elephantine mask for the wildlife-themed party.

Often appears as...
- elephantine features
- elephantine mask
adjective
Very large, heavy, or clumsy.
His elephantine movements drew attention from everyone in the room.

Often appears as...
- elephantine size
- elephantine task
adjective
Looking like an elephant or relating to elephants.
He wore an elephantine mask for the wildlife-themed party.

Often appears as...
- elephantine features
- elephantine mask
Definition 1 of 2

Physical Size
Use 'elephantine' to describe something unusually large or physically imposing.

The elephantine statue dominated the town square.
Clumsiness Implied
'Elephantine' can imply a lack of grace or finesse when describing movements or actions.

She moved with an elephantine gracelessness on the dance floor.
Metaphorical Use
It's often used metaphorically to emphasize the weightiness or difficulty of a task.

He faced the elephantine task of restoring the old mansion.
Physical Size
Use 'elephantine' to describe something unusually large or physically imposing.

The elephantine statue dominated the town square.
Clumsiness Implied
'Elephantine' can imply a lack of grace or finesse when describing movements or actions.

She moved with an elephantine gracelessness on the dance floor.
Metaphorical Use
It's often used metaphorically to emphasize the weightiness or difficulty of a task.

He faced the elephantine task of restoring the old mansion.
Physical Size
Use 'elephantine' to describe something unusually large or physically imposing.

The elephantine statue dominated the town square.
Clumsiness Implied
'Elephantine' can imply a lack of grace or finesse when describing movements or actions.

She moved with an elephantine gracelessness on the dance floor.
Metaphorical Use
It's often used metaphorically to emphasize the weightiness or difficulty of a task.

He faced the elephantine task of restoring the old mansion.
Quote examples
Madeleine Albright
American Statesman
The U.N. bureaucracy has grown to elephantine proportions. Now that the Cold War is over, we are asking that elephant to do gymnastics.

Quote examples
Garrison Keillor
American Writer
Even in a time of elephantine vanity and greed, one never has to look far to see the campfires of gentle people.

Quote examples
George Orwell
British Author
Joyce is a poet and also an elephantine pedant.

Quote examples
Madeleine Albright
American Statesman
The U.N. bureaucracy has grown to elephantine proportions. Now that the Cold War is over, we are asking that elephant to do gymnastics.

Quote examples
Garrison Keillor
American Writer
Even in a time of elephantine vanity and greed, one never has to look far to see the campfires of gentle people.

Quote examples
George Orwell
British Author
Joyce is a poet and also an elephantine pedant.

Example 1 of 3
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