Synonyms of heavy

heavy 1 of 2

adjective

ˈhe-vē 

1

as in massive

having great weight

this trunk full of books is much too heavy for one person to lift

Synonyms & Similar Words

• massive
• hefty
• ponderous
• substantial
• weighty
• solid
• bulky
• burdensome
• voluminous
• leaden
• massy
• overweight
• outsize
• elephantine
• top-heavy
• lumpish
• ultraheavy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• light
• weightless
• fluffy
• slight
• feathery
• airy
• flimsy
• ethereal
• lightweight
• gossamer
• insubstantial
• undersized
• underweight
• gossamery
• ultralight
• ultralightweight

2

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

• slow
• boring
• tiring
• stupid
• weary
• old
• dusty
• wearying
• dull
• dry
• annoying
• tedious
• ponderous
• monotonous
• irritating
• pedestrian
• tame
• leaden
• tiresome
• stodgy
• uninteresting
• drab
• wearisome
• dreary
• arid
• humdrum
• monochromatic
• numbing
• stuffy
• colorless
• stale
• flat
• exhausting
• mind-numbing
• pallid
• jejune
• drudging
• ho-hum
• sterile
• gray
• jading
• draining
• soggy
• blank
• dullish
• blah
• barren
• unimaginative
• prosaic
• irksome
• unexciting
• prosy
• spiritless
• unspectacular
• uneventful
• bothersome
• unrewarding
• earthbound
• cumbersome
• inanimate
• fatiguing
• uninspiring
• aseptic
• pedantic
• debilitating
• undramatic
• ordinary
• discouraging
• wearing
• suspenseless
• common
• unsensational
• lumbering
• unnewsworthy
• pleasureless
• tepid
• commonplace
• unsurprising
• vapid
• unexceptional
• plodding
• demoralizing
• longsome
• dispiriting
• disheartening
• enervating
• poky
• palling
• enfeebling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• interesting
• involving
• intriguing
• surprising
• engaging
• wonderful
• absorbing
• gripping
• spectacular
• amazing
• riveting
• awesome
• engrossing
• wondrous
• exciting
• marvelous
• sensational
• astonishing
• astounding
• fabulous
• stirring
• exhilarating
• breathtaking
• inspiring
• thrilling
• stimulating
• amusing
• moving
• rousing
• attractive
• entertaining
• electrifying
• energizing
• poignant
• alluring
• charming
• touching
• animating
• attracting
• fascinating
• beguiling
• enchanting
• enthralling
• invigorating
• galvanizing
• enlivening
• rip-roaring
• entrancing
• bewitching
• eye-opening
• diverting
• provocative
• hair-raising
• suspenseful
• tantalizing
• captivating
• mesmerizing
• arresting
• spellbinding

3

as in greasy

containing much seasoning, fat, or sugar

avoid heavy desserts like cheesecake and pecan pie

Synonyms & Similar Words

• greasy
• fatty
• rich
• spicy
• oily
• caloric
• sweet
• fat
• cloying
• calorific
• filling
• fattening
• buttery
• sugary
• creamy
• oversweet
• satiating
• overfilling
• sating
• sauced

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• light
• simple
• lite
• plain
• natural
• diet
• unseasoned
• nonfat
• slimming
• nonfattening

4

as in hazy

covered over by clouds

heavy skies threatening rain

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hazy
• darkened
• clouded
• misty
• gray
• murky
• overcast
• lowering
• dark
• dull
• cloudy
• bleak
• blackened
• hazed
• overclouded
• black
• obscured
• dusky
• obscure
• beclouded
• dim
• darksome
• dulled
• dimmed
• somber
• gloomy
• sullen
• overshadowed
• dreary
• cheerless
• dismal
• sepulchral
• desolate
• funereal
• bedimmed
• glum
• befogged
• drear
• sunless

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• clear
• cloudless
• sunny
• shiny
• sunlit
• brilliant
• sunshiny
• dazzling
• radiant
• lit
• illuminated
• lightened
• brightened
• illumined

5

as in harsh

difficult to endure

they paid a heavy price for their mistakes

Synonyms & Similar Words

• harsh
• tough
• oppressive
• searing
• hard
• severe
• brutal
• rough
• grim
• cruel
• burdensome
• trying
• onerous
• painful
• rugged
• stiff
• bitter
• murderous
• inhuman
• grievous
• bleak
• excruciating
• uncomfortable
• strict
• hardhanded
• unpleasant
• unbearable
• bad
• rigorous
• overwhelming
• stringent
• crushing
• forbidding
• spartan
• austere
• inhospitable
• inclement
• biting
• discomforting
• comfortless
• intemperate
• agonizing
• intolerable
• grinding
• wild
• hostile
• insufferable
• tortuous
• wretched
• unendurable
• disagreeable
• wearing
• unfriendly
• harrowing
• heartbreaking
• insupportable
• heartrending

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• light
• easy
• soft
• comfortable
• luxurious
• pleasant
• friendly
• cozy
• agreeable
• hospitable
• genial
• peaceful
• moderate
• mild
• gentle
• relaxing
• restful
• tolerable
• snug
• bearable
• calm
• painless
• temperate
• balmy
• endurable
• reposeful
• clement

6

as in intensive

extreme in degree, power, or effect

heavy rains

the company is forecasting heavy losses this year

Synonyms & Similar Words

• intensive
• intense
• deep
• fierce
• terrible
• ferocious
• furious
• violent
• profound
• explosive
• vicious
• heavy-duty
• acute
• dreadful
• fearful
• hard
• exquisite
• blistering
• ghastly
• vehement
• fearsome
• excruciating
• frightful
• keen
• intensified
• harsh
• hellacious
• almighty
• concentrated
• aggravated
• severe
• heightened
• enhanced
• stressed
• magnified
• exhaustive
• thorough
• accentuated
• rigorous
• deepened
• emphasized

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• light
• moderate
• soft
• weak
• feeble
• superficial
• shallow
• eased
• qualified
• decreased
• moderated
• toned (down)
• reduced
• subdued
• diminished
• lightened
• lessened
• alleviated
• abated

7

as in serious

having a matter of importance as its topic

got into a heavy discussion about death and the afterlife

Synonyms & Similar Words

• serious
• important
• big
• major
• meaningful
• substantial
• weighty
• grave
• significant
• solid
• portentous
• momentous
• material
• eventful
• consequential

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• light
• small
• little
• slight
• minor
• trivial
• insignificant
• unimportant
• silly
• frivolous
• unserious
• Mickey Mouse
• lite

8

as in difficult

requiring considerable physical or mental effort

until we find our groove, it's going to be heavy sledding on this project

Synonyms & Similar Words

• difficult
• challenging
• tough
• rigorous
• hard
• formidable
• demanding
• complicated
• severe
• rough
• rugged
• sweaty
• tall
• strenuous
• stiff
• effortful
• laborious
• arduous
• murderous
• painful
• intricate
• testing
• uphill
• backbreaking
• killer
• complex
• serious
• exacting
• herculean
• exhausting
• grueling
• toilsome
• problematic
• annoying
• hellacious
• oppressive
• brutal
• grim
• tight
• pick-and-shovel
• bruising
• stubborn
• burdensome
• onerous
• elusive
• hairy
• involved
• tricky
• stressful
• moiling
• abstract
• opaque
• troublesome
• insoluble
• strict
• thorny
• Augean
• abstruse
• knotty
• irksome
• spiny
• stringent
• recondite
• labored
• bothersome
• vexatious
• trying
• taxing
• cruel
• ticklish
• distressing
• grievous
• inhuman

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• light
• easy
• soft
• simple
• cheap
• clear
• mindless
• effortless
• facile
• elementary
• undemanding
• manageable
• uncomplicated
• smooth
• gentle
• achievable
• doable
• soothing
• comforting
• relaxed
• painless
• friendly
• accessible
• user-friendly
• idiotproof

9

as in powerful

having great power or influence

she's not among the handful of heavy critics who can make or break a Broadway show

Synonyms & Similar Words

• powerful
• influential
• significant
• strong
• important
• mighty
• potent
• prominent
• heavy-duty
• senior
• top
• puissant
• outstanding
• efficient
• capable
• effective
• high-level
• great
• distinguished
• dominant
• famous
• able
• robust
• celebrated
• notable
• notorious
• competent
• vigorous
• renowned
• dynamic
• prestigious
• tyrannical
• authoritarian
• illustrious
• noteworthy
• eminent
• despotic
• famed
• autocratic
• energetic
• dictatorial
• forceful
• noble
• magisterial
• high-powered
• preeminent

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• little
• weak
• insignificant
• unimportant
• helpless
• powerless
• impotent
• feeble
• flimsy
• frail
• infirm
• unknown
• obscure
• anonymous
• ineffective
• incapable
• nameless
• incompetent
• unskilled
• unfit
• unqualified
• inept
• uncelebrated
• unskillful
• inexpert

10

as in pregnant

containing unborn young within the body

the heifer was heavy with young and soon would be birthing

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pregnant
• gone
• caught
• expecting
• with young
• big
• gravid
• expectant
• quick
• enceinte
• with child
• prenatal
• gestational
• brooding
• parturient
• childbearing
• impregnated
• conceiving

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• barren
• nonpregnant
• infertile
• delivered
• miscarrying
• aborting

heavy

2 of 2

noun

1

as in brute

a mean, evil, or unprincipled person

he played the heavy in film after film until being cast against type as the romantic lead in a comedy

Synonyms & Similar Words

• brute
• villain
• monster
• savage
• criminal
• beast
• devil
• offender
• wretch
• bandit
• rogue
• thug
• assassin
• gangster
• no-good
• nazi
• loser
• rascal
• scapegrace
• reprobate
• miscreant
• caitiff
• scoundrel
• hound
• fiend
• crook
• knave
• scamp
• scalawag
• evildoer
• varlet
• baddie
• perpetrator
• snake
• rough
• tough
• culprit
• meanie
• rapscallion
• trespasser
• heel
• outlaw
• con
• felon
• perp
• sinner
• viper
• transgressor
• blackguard
• serpent
• cutthroat
• rowdy
• malefactor
• wrongdoer
• desperado
• villainess
• lawbreaker
• cad
• convict
• ruffian
• racketeer
• hoodlum
• goon
• hooligan
• stinker
• bravo
• trash
• jailbird
• lowlife
• gunman
• ne'er-do-well

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• innocent
• angel
• hero
• saint

2

as in heavyweight

one of high position or importance within a group

in the field of secondary education, she definitely ranks as one of the heavies

Synonyms & Similar Words

• heavyweight
• big
• lion
• magnate
• heavy hitter
• big gun
• big boy
• king
• queen
• tycoon
• big wheel
• major leaguer
• biggie
• big leaguer
• wheel
• bigwig
• big cheese
• prince
• kingfish
• baron
• nabob
• nob
• fat cat
• big-timer
• nibs
• kingpin
• nawab
• kahuna
• bigfoot
• big shot
• honcho
• muckety-muck
• high-muck-a-muck
• princess
• pooh-bah
• czar
• mogul
• VIP

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lightweight
• nothing
• nobody
• zero
• nonentity
• subordinate
• twerp
• whippersnapper
• zilch
• inferior
• underling
• obscurity
• mediocrity

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

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

Recent Examples of heavy

Adjective

The legal battles allow mayors to postpone financial hits to the city budget but place an even heavier burden on future taxpayers. —Joe Mahr, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026

Effort feels heavier not just physically, but mentally. —Jim Diehl Cscs, Outside, 29 Mar. 2026

Noun

Absinthe-eyed, she projectile-vomits blunt observations and also oysters onto the heavies, overimbibing her way into her own grave once she’s inevitably discarded with a shot and shove down a stairwell (a barely-there John Magaro plays one of the gangsters). —Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 4 Mar. 2026

Styles has promised that his new record will be synthesizer-heavy, with inspiration including LCD Soundsystem and his time living in Berlin. —Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 28 Feb. 2026

Phrases Containing heavy

• heavy hitter