heavy 1 of 2

adjective

ˈhe-vē How to pronounce heavy (audio)
Definition of heavynext
1
as in massive
having great weight this trunk full of books is much too heavy for one person to lift

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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

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3
as in greasy
containing much seasoning, fat, or sugar avoid heavy desserts like cheesecake and pecan pie

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4
as in hazy
covered over by clouds heavy skies threatening rain

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5
as in harsh
difficult to endure they paid a heavy price for their mistakes

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6
as in intensive
extreme in degree, power, or effect heavy rains the company is forecasting heavy losses this year

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7
as in serious
having a matter of importance as its topic got into a heavy discussion about death and the afterlife

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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

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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

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10
as in pregnant
containing unborn young within the body the heifer was heavy with young and soon would be birthing

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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

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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

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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
The Florida Panthers’ run of consistent success over the past handful of years, which reached a crescendo last year with the franchise winning its first Stanley Cup, plays a heavy part in that. —Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 11 May 2025 The heavy orders Jan back to the house, then intimidates Alice. —EW.com, 11 May 2025
Noun
They’re supposed to be the reinforcements, the heavies, personally recruited by Quinn — a fugitive Army Intelligence Colonel! — and installed at Beck’s place, just like Paulie. —Chris Klimek, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2025 The other students find the burden of imperfect English heavy. —Jesse Green, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for heavy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heavy
  1. massive
  2. slow
  3. greasy
  4. hazy
  5. harsh
  6. intensive
  7. serious
  8. difficult
Adjective
  • Every hurricane season in Florida comes with uncertainty but there’s a surprising new source of questions this year surrounding the federal agency that responds to disasters and has historically helped pay for often massive cleanup and recovery costs.
    — Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 28 May 2025
  • Stanton was a massive piece of the Yankees' run to the World Series last season, and his return is expected to make the Yankees' lineup more dangerous.
    — Hunter Mulholland, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 May 2025
Definition of massive
Adjective
  • Despite the retirement of highly successful Atlas and Delta launch vehicles, the transition to Vulcan has been slow and continues to impact the completion of Space Force mission objectives.
    — Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 May 2025
  • Here in Croatia, the pace of life is slower, especially in smaller towns.
    — Abdul Rehman, New York Times, 30 May 2025
Definition of slow
Adjective
  • The Stars got their looks, yes, but a greasy goal from the blue paint never materialized.
    — Pierre LeBrun, New York Times, 27 May 2025
  • The formula glides on sheer and leaves skin looking luminous, not greasy, thanks to its vitamin C and E infusion, which also helps nourish and condition.
    — Jailynn Taylor, Allure, 26 May 2025
Definition of greasy
Adjective
  • Though famous for its hazy IPAs, Outer Range has stepped up its game in lagers, pilsners, stouts, saisons and Belgians.
    — Shauna Farnell, Denver Post, 27 May 2025
  • The potential July trade market for relievers is hazy.
    — Matt Gelb, New York Times, 20 May 2025
Definition of hazy
Adjective
  • In fact, all forms of Persian rap — from street rap and gangsta to philosophical and social hip-hop — were used in the service of protest, with many works accompanied by heavy beats, dark atmospheres, and harsh narrative styles.
    — Ali Farahmand, IndieWire, 23 May 2025
  • Padilla had harsh comments for the president and the GOP in a statement Thursday after the House vote.
    — David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 23 May 2025
Definition of harsh
Adjective
  • With 4 million packages a day passing through American gateways using the de minimis exception, and around half of those shipments hailing from China, CBP is now contending with a much more intensive entry process for small shipments than it’s been accustomed to.
    — Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 13 May 2025
  • The department conducts an annual review of each state, and a more intensive one that’s supposed to be completed roughly every five years.
    — Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 13 May 2025
Definition of intensive
Adjective
  • Seven restaurants were closed because of serious health violations: Chuys Restaurant, 4441 River Oaks Blvd., had a score of 27 and was closed because of unsafe temperatures in the restaurant’s cold storage units.
    — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 May 2025
  • Some of the Thunderbird pilots flying high had to overcome serious obstacles on the ground.
    — Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 24 May 2025
Definition of serious
Adjective
  • But the fact that Schwartzman, in his first film, was given the difficult task of stealing laughs away from a comedy legend, and so often succeeds in doing so, gives him the slight edge.
    — Shannon Carlin, Time, 30 May 2025
  • These connections are difficult to make from within, but consultants are trained to see across boundaries.
    — Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
Definition of difficult

Phrases Containing heavy

Browse Nearby Words

heaving
heavy
heavy-duty
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Cite this Entry

“Heavy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heavy. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.

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