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

The action and comedy will keep the kiddos entertained, but like the first film, the sequel touches on prejudice plus adds some other weighty topics such as land grabbing. —Brian Truitt, USA Today, 25 Nov. 2025

The weirdly democratized art of fiction means that writers with only a fraction of the cerebral heft of a Susan Sontag can produce novels far better than something as weighty as In America. —Victor J. Blue, Harpers Magazine, 23 Nov. 2025

Curtis Robinson’s first career start comes with weighty responsibility as the play-relaying middle linebacker role previously occupied by Fred Warner and Tatum Bethune, the latter of whom is likely out these next two games before the Week 14 bye because of last Sunday’s high-ankle sprain. —Cam Inman, Mercury News, 23 Nov. 2025

But Mueller said that Troxell’s leadership role in the gang could not be ignored, and that he was convicted of weighty crimes. —Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 18 Nov. 2025

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