heavy-duty

adjective

heavy-du·​ty ˈhe-vē-ˈdü-tē 

-ˈdyü-

1

: able or designed to withstand unusual strain

heavy-duty trucks

2

: intensive

heavy-duty bargaining

3

: important, prominent

heavy-duty lawyers

Synonyms

• acute
• almighty
• blistering
• deep
• dreadful
• excruciating
• explosive
• exquisite
• fearful
• fearsome
• ferocious
• fierce
• frightful
• furious
• ghastly
• hard
• heavy
• hellacious
• intense
• intensive
• keen
• profound
• terrible
• vehement
• vicious
• violent

Examples of heavy-duty in a Sentence

some heavy-duty lobbying on the part of the president was necessary in order to get the bill passed

a group of heavy-duty politicians and other notables attended the gala

Recent Examples on the Web

Take note that some vehicles, including heavy-duty trucks, low-volume vehicles, those discontinued as of the 2024 model year and units in production for fewer than four of the last five model years for each period were excluded from the study. —Jim Gorzelany, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025

Rather than lugging your cushions and other outdoor items inside when not in use, take advantage of the current savings at Amazon and invest in a convenient and heavy-duty outdoor storage box from $40. —Maggie Horton, People.com, 22 Apr. 2025

Two heavy-duty click points—one with a handle on the back of the chair and one at the front of the seat—stretch the Trailhead’s highly breathable mesh tightly over the alloy steel and plastic frame. —Joe Jackson, Outside Online, 21 Apr. 2025

If there’s a big mountain or multiday backpacking trip on the itinerary, then my heavy-duty hiking boots are absolutely coming with me. —Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 21 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1914, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for heavy-duty

• beauty
• booty
• cutie
• duty
• fruity
• putti
• snooty
• sooty
• sruti
• tutti

Kids Definition

heavy-duty

adjective

heavy-du·​ty

ˌhev-ē-ˈd(y)üt-ē

: able or designed to take hard use or great strain

heavy-duty vehicles