Definition of heavynext
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as in slow
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest the study of history doesn't have to be all about dull heavy reading and the memorization of dates

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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heavy

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective heavy differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of heavy are cumbersome, cumbrous, ponderous, and weighty. While all these words 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

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

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 could ponderous be used to replace heavy?

The meanings of ponderous and heavy largely overlap; however, ponderous implies having great weight because of size and massiveness with resulting great inertia.

ponderous elephants in a circus parade

Where would weighty be a reasonable alternative to heavy?

In some situations, the words weighty and heavy are roughly equivalent. However, weighty suggests having actual and not just relative weight.

a load of weighty boxes

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 heavy
Adjective
Then, an optimization algorithm repeatedly rearranged the drone’s heavy essentials, such as the battery, the circuit board, and the counterweights. Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 16 July 2026 Fire Point, the company that designed and produces the FP-1 drone used in its long-range strike campaigns, has come under heavy scrutiny. Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 16 July 2026
Noun
In a wide-ranging conversation for Entertainment Weekly's cover story on the latest entry in the horror parody franchise, Faris looked back on her time making the stunt-heavy threequel in 2003. Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 19 June 2026 In any year, in any culture, there are no antagonists (save for Nazis) better suited as action cinema heavies; rooting against child trafficking lowlifes is moral, easy, and best of all, a completely guiltless pleasure. Andy Crump, IndieWire, 15 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for heavy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heavy
Adjective
  • County officials are asking the board for the South Fulton Municipal Regional Jail Authority to approve a resolution authorizing the authority to issue bonds for the massive project that could take a decade to complete.
    Reed Williams, AJC.com, 17 July 2026
  • The potential spread of massive water and electricity-consuming data centers into Florida has sparked fierce opposition from thousands of residents and drawn dividing lines between its most powerful politicians.
    Alexandra Phelps, Miami Herald, 17 July 2026
Adjective
  • After the shooting, the victim’s car was seen on surveillance footage driving in slow circles as federal agents appeared to try and stop the vehicle.
    Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
  • Thus far, capital markets more broadly have been slow to respond to this threat for a variety of reasons.
    Justin Worland, Time, 18 July 2026
Adjective
  • Nausea is a common side effect of these medications, and heavy, greasy meals can amplify it rather than settle the stomach.
    Lauren Jarvis-Gibson July 15, Kansas City Star, 15 July 2026
  • Holes beyond donut holes and greasy floors pushed a state inspector to fail a Miami Dunkin’ restaurant on inspection last week.
    David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 14 July 2026
Adjective
  • Okay, the Fourth of July is over, and now we’re settled into the lazy, hazy days of summer.
    Janet Kusterer, Baltimore Sun, 10 July 2026
  • The phenomenon can dampen chances of rain, cause hazier skies and contribute to even higher temperatures.
    Sarah Perkel, USA Today, 8 July 2026
Adjective
  • The couple made sure the design included a basement where the kids could spend time, better insulation to handle South Dakota’s harsh weather and plenty of storage — all features their previous home lacked.
    Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 18 July 2026
  • Those are some of the harsh conditions that detainees in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody described experiencing in recent weeks at the Federal Detention Center, a Bureau of Prisons facility located in a concrete tower in downtown Miami.
    Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 18 July 2026
Adjective
  • Yet the end goal of this liberation movement appears to be a more intense brand of intensive parenting.
    Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 16 July 2026
  • Rising costs across the produce supply chain Growing everything from strawberries to collard greens is labor intensive, and for many years, worker shortages have compelled farms to hike wages.
    Elizabeth Canales, The Conversation, 16 July 2026
Adjective
  • Surrounding areas are under a very serious Level 3 of 4 risk.
    Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
  • However, the area does have serious needs for infrastructure improvement, such as addressing flooding that has long affected neighborhoods like Argentine during rainy times of year.
    Sofi Zeman July 14, Kansas City Star, 14 July 2026
Adjective
  • Unlike dogs, they cannot simply be taken on longer walks, often resist dietary changes, and can be difficult to medicate consistently, making GLP-1 therapies potentially attractive if clinical trials prove successful.
    Elsa Ohlen,Carolin Roth, CNBC, 18 July 2026
  • Their stories recount the devastation to homes and businesses, life in temporary shelters, and the difficult process of rebuilding or relocating.
    Michelle Oliva-Espinosa, Kansas City Star, 18 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Heavy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heavy. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

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