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 Cons The top-heavy design is bulky and more cumbersome to maneuver. Camryn Rabideau, Peoplemag, 15 Nov. 2023 Cons The design is top-heavy and can easily fall over if left unattended. Camryn Rabideau, Peoplemag, 14 Nov. 2023 The device's motor is, according to Dyson, three times lighter than that of an average hair dryer and located in the handle, which makes the entire device less top-heavy and much easier on your wrists. Sarah Han, Allure, 25 Oct. 2023 The stock market is top-heavy, depending disproportionately on a handful of big companies. Jeff Sommer, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2023 However, this makes the head top-heavy, which can make handling this lopper a bit tricky. Jacquelene Amoquandoh, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Oct. 2023 Still, the most important playoff previews came courtesy of the Dodgers’ middle three hitters, who provided the kind of high-leverage production that can overcome pitching deficiencies, prop up an otherwise top-heavy lineup, and just maybe prolong the club’s upcoming postseason run. Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2023 Tight end is the most top-heavy position in fantasy, so finding this type of value on the waiver wire can make a big difference. Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Sep. 2023 Cities like Lisbon, Paris and Alexandria become top-heavy soundstage parodies of themselves, as a child might dream them after leafing through a picture book. Guy Lodge, Variety, 1 Sep. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'top-heavy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1531, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of top-heavy was circa 1531

Dictionary Entries Near top-heavy

Cite this Entry

“Top-heavy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/top-heavy. Accessed 7 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

top-heavy

adjective
ˈtäp-ˌhev-ē
: having the top part too heavy for the lower part

More from Merriam-Webster on top-heavy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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