weighty

adjective

ˈwā-tē 

weightier; weightiest

1

a

: of much importance or consequence : momentous

a weighty problem

b

: solemn

2

a

: weighing a considerable amount

b

: heavy in proportion to its bulk

weighty metal

3

: powerful, telling

weighty arguments

weightily

ˈwā-tə-lē 

adverb

weightiness

ˈwā-tē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of weighty

• serious
• important

Choose the Right Synonym for weighty

heavy, weighty, ponderous, cumbrous, cumbersome mean having great weight.

heavy implies that something has greater density or thickness than the average of its kind or class.

a heavy child for his age

weighty suggests having actual and not just relative weight.

a load of weighty boxes

ponderous implies having great weight because of size and massiveness with resulting great inertia.

ponderous elephants in a circus parade

cumbrous and cumbersome imply heaviness and bulkiness that make for difficulty in grasping, moving, carrying, or manipulating.

wrestled with the cumbrous furniture

early cameras were cumbersome and inconvenient

Examples of weighty in a Sentence

She grabbed a weighty book off the shelf.

The film deals with some weighty issues.

Those are weighty arguments in your favor.

He was a weighty figure in the art world.

Recent Examples on the Web

This masterful film is both an ode to old-school musicals and a remarkably modern piece of filmmaking — with Spielberg's explosive colors, expansive cinematography, and soaring song-and-dance numbers matching the weighty themes and timeless emotions of this classic. —James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Jan. 2026

It’s best listened to in headphones good enough to reveal the many subtle nuances of the sound design and to also emphasize the punchier, weightier moments, including Skrillex’s own singing. —Katie Bain, Billboard, 16 Jan. 2026

But a big-money move to European giant Barcelona smothered him in weighty expectations and he was hamstrung with a plethora of injuries. —Amanda Davies, CNN Money, 12 Jan. 2026

On-site restaurant Montagu is inspired by his dining room, and the Art Deco Churchill Bar & Terrace is lined with weighty history books curated by London's beloved Daunts Books, and love letters sent between Churchill and his wife Clementine. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for weighty

• eighty
• kati
• katy
• platy
• slaty

Kids Definition

weighty

adjective

ˈwāt-ē 

weightier; weightiest

1

: having much weight : heavy

2

a

: of much importance : serious

weighty problems

b

: showing seriousness : solemn

a weighty expression on her face

3

: having the power to influence or persuade

weighty arguments

weightily

ˈwāt-ᵊl-ē 

adverb

weightiness noun