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Definition of heavynext
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as in slow
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest the study of history doesn't have to be all about dull heavy reading and the memorization of dates

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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heavy

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective heavy differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of heavy are cumbersome, cumbrous, ponderous, and weighty. While all these words 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

How are the words cumbrous and cumbersome related as synonyms of heavy?

Both 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

When could ponderous be used to replace heavy?

The meanings of ponderous and heavy largely overlap; however, ponderous implies having great weight because of size and massiveness with resulting great inertia.

ponderous elephants in a circus parade

Where would weighty be a reasonable alternative to heavy?

In some situations, the words weighty and heavy are roughly equivalent. However, weighty suggests having actual and not just relative weight.

a load of weighty boxes

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of heavy
Adjective
Null said Sacramento’s early fall weather patterns caused a perfect storm for a particularly heavy fog year. Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 1 Feb. 2026 When heavy rain occurs, there is a risk of flooding, particularly in low-lying and flood-prone regions. Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 1 Feb. 2026
Noun
This approach offers an environmentally friendly alternative to the current textile industry’s chemical-heavy processes, which rely on polluting synthetic fibers and dyes. Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 12 Nov. 2025 There is going to be a special burgundy-heavy edition of the book. Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 8 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for heavy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heavy
Adjective
  • Los Angeles police issued a dispersal order Wednesday after a massive student protest over federal immigration enforcement efforts spiraled into violence in downtown LA.
    Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026
  • Williams had just blown up the Chargers’ last-gasp comeback attempt and charged over to his head coach, getting a massive bear hug from Vrabel.
    Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • The studio believes that February, once seen as a slow month for moviegoing, has become a much more lucrative corridor to release films.
    Brent Lang, Variety, 6 Feb. 2026
  • What was once a slow squeeze has become an acute system failure for patients statewide.
    Andrew Hevesi, New York Daily News, 6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Plus, hats and scarves can trap oil and sweat, which can lead to itchy scalps and greasy roots.
    Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 29 Jan. 2026
  • Yes, these methods will work for any greasy type of stain.
    Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • But Moltbook illustrates how hazy that vision really is.
    Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 4 Feb. 2026
  • The couple meets again a purposefully fuzzy period of time later, disagreeing on the hazy details.
    Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • The energy output is designed to remain stable down to –50 degrees Celsius, supporting reliable operation in some of the harshest climates on Earth, reports InsideEVs.
    Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Rapinchuk recommends only using non-toxic products when cleaning your refrigerator and avoiding anything with harsh chemicals, such as bleach and ammonia.
    Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • While neighboring vineyards resorted to grafting their vines onto pest-resistant American roots, DRC used various intensive strategies to keep its original European vines intact, at least until the 1940s.
    Pin Yen Tan 9 min ago, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
  • The company later focused strictly on music supervision for music-intensive shows such as American Idol, to which Kaye contributed for more than 15 years.
    Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • In a statement to NBC News, Daiichi Sankyo, which makes Savaysa, said that the drug is used to reduce the risk of stroke and clots but added that anticoagulants can increase the risk of serious bleeding.
    David Cox, NBC news, 5 Feb. 2026
  • Many of these people had been charged with serious crimes like assaulting security officers or bus and train operators, weapons possession, or threatening drivers.
    Amber Gaudet Updated February 5, Charlotte Observer, 5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • This requires the difficult task of collecting precise, real-world measurements of complex nuclei and comparing the measurements with the models’ predictions.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 2 Feb. 2026
  • While that process may prove difficult, the suspension option was hardly better.
    Zach LaChance, The Washington Examiner, 2 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Heavy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heavy. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.

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