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as in influential
having power over the minds or behavior of others one of the weightiest figures in the field of pediatric medicine

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective weighty differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of weighty are cumbersome, cumbrous, heavy, and ponderous. While all these words mean "having great weight," weighty suggests having actual and not just relative weight.

a load of weighty boxes

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

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 can heavy be used instead of weighty?

In some situations, the words heavy and weighty are roughly equivalent. However, heavy implies that something has greater density or thickness than the average of its kind or class.

a heavy child for his age

When might ponderous be a better fit than weighty?

The synonyms ponderous and weighty are sometimes interchangeable, but ponderous implies having great weight because of size and massiveness with resulting great inertia.

ponderous elephants in a circus parade

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 weighty Oud Zarian opens with a bright, sparkling lift of bergamot and ginger that sets an unexpectedly fresh stage for such a weighty central ingredient. Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 2 Sep. 2025 The twentysomethings are now in their thirties and this first feature has a weightier tone tackling issues of parenthood, economic survival and migration, albeit with love and laughter. Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 2 Sep. 2025 That weighty grief followed him and Birrittier through Liam’s funeral, court hearings and press conferences. Charlotte Observer, 2 Sep. 2025 The hilts are mostly metallic, giving them that weighty and real feel, while the blade is mostly plastic with LED lights. Alexander Cox, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for weighty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for weighty
Adjective
  • And at what point will the FO/Doc accept that—even with Conforto’s lucky strike last night—no serious team can use a Conforto-Pages-Teo outfield—in the field and at the plate—and hope to contend in the way this team should?
    Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
  • While the classic grounds for denaturalization include concealment of criminal histories or material lies in the naturalization process, there are growing indications that serious tax fraud may be viewed as evidence that naturalization was procured illegally or fraudulently.
    Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The plants captured more carbon without drawing more water, an important factor for real-world applications.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Tire tread depth - Checking your tire tread before hitting the road is important, as low or no tread can lead to sliding.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • In short, the massive popularity of its original anime ‘80s run wasn’t matched by its merchandising, and that’s something that is now being belatedly addressed.
    Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Musk has long said Starship’s sheer size and power could make brand-new types of missions possible, including carrying groups of humans to Mars and deploying massive new space telescopes.
    Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Cape Town overflows with history and culture, from the colorful houses and Cape Malay heritage of Bo-Kaap to the solemn shores of Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela spent 18 years in prison.
    Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Perhaps that should be a solemn oath for all AI makers.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Psychologist Meg Jay, in her influential book The Defining Decade, warns against passivity but also reassures that change and momentum can be built at any age.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
  • One influential boxing figure in the United States, who spoke to The Athletic on condition of anonymity to protect working relationships, said the Saudi purses have changed how fighters assess their bouts.
    Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • In 2024, Nepal ranked 107th out of 180 countries on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index, with 84% of people perceiving government corruption to be a major problem.
    Nir Kshetri, The Conversation, 14 Sep. 2025
  • The Atlanta carrier plummeted from first place in 2022 to seventh in 2024 — the biggest drop of any major airline.
    Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Ketamine therapy’s most common short-term side effects are dizziness and nausea, but in extreme cases, long-term, heavy use of ketamine is associated with memory problems, gastrointestinal issues, and urinary tract infections, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
    Rachel Hale, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
  • When heavy rain occurs, there is a potential for flooding, particularly in areas that are low-lying or prone to floods.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • In fact, Baltimore has received a stern warning on closing out big games from former All-Pro cornerback Patrick Peterson.
    James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Shatter and Falconi had formed Flipper in the late 1970s Bay Area at the dawn of hardcore, the tougher and sterner punk variant that had a stronghold in California.
    Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 7 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Weighty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weighty. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

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