top-heavy
adjective
1
: having the top part too heavy for the lower part
2
: having too high a proportion of administrators
a top-heavy bureaucracy
3
: oversupplied with one element at the expense of others : lacking balance
a novel top-heavy with description
Examples of top-heavy in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Is there a move that can accomplish both and still keep a top-heavy salary structure (Jaylen Brown and Tatum will combine to make $131 million in 2027-28) from pushing past the second apron and triggering draft pick penalties?
—
Sam Amick, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2026
Consider repotting if roots are emerging from drainage holes, if the soil dries out more quickly than before, or if the plant has become top-heavy.
—Rachel Gillett, Martha Stewart, 29 Dec. 2025
The single-stock ETF fund market is top-heavy, Evens said.
—Lorie Konish, CNBC, 12 Dec. 2025
Long stem cuttings are often too top-heavy to stay upright in plant propagation jars, so take cuttings that are only 2 to 5 leaf segments long.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for top-heavy
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.
Sam Amick, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2026
Consider repotting if roots are emerging from drainage holes, if the soil dries out more quickly than before, or if the plant has become top-heavy.
—Rachel Gillett, Martha Stewart, 29 Dec. 2025
The single-stock ETF fund market is top-heavy, Evens said.
—Lorie Konish, CNBC, 12 Dec. 2025
Long stem cuttings are often too top-heavy to stay upright in plant propagation jars, so take cuttings that are only 2 to 5 leaf segments long.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for top-heavy
Cite this Entry
“Top-heavy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/top-heavy. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
