heavily

adverb

ˈhe-və-lē How to pronounce heavily (audio)
Definition of heavilynext
as in extremely
to a great degree heavily spiced sausage the family was heavily in debt

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 heavily Meanwhile, some websites have firmly projected that Democratic candidates will lose in districts that were redrawn to heavily favor Republicans. — Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Nov. 2026 Since 2022, the Irish high-street retailer has invested heavily in traceability, expanding from an initial pilot to onboarding all of its direct clothing, footwear and textile suppliers. — Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 30 Oct. 2026 Its technology business also operates in heavily regulated areas. — Isabella Gao, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2026 King Charles’ relationship with Queen Camilla has always been heavily scrutinized for obvious reasons. — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 30 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for heavily
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heavily
  1. extremely
  2. highly
  3. terribly
  4. very
  5. incredibly
  6. badly
  7. severely
  8. too
Adverb
  • How Cube Steak Is Used and Cooked Cube steak is extremely versatile.
    — Natalia Vela, Southern Living, 3 Nov. 2026
  • California has gotten extremely soft on accountability with youth.
    — Richard Ramos, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of extremely
Adverb
  • That deal ushered in a new era of healthcare consolidation, lacing together huge swaths of a highly regulated industry into a conglomerate critics said led to less competition and higher prices for consumers.
    — Shelly Banjo, semafor.com, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Proposition 40 divided Democratic leaders because of concerns about its impact on the state’s volatile budget that is highly dependent on the wealthy.
    — Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of highly
Adverb
  • The North Carolina state legislator Jennifer Balkcom wasn’t terribly well-known before this election cycle.
    — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 3 Nov. 2026
  • By focusing on the brain’s extraordinary—and still under-recognized—capacity for repair, Swain doesn’t encourage us to marvel at the many ways in which things can go terribly wrong.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of terribly
Adverb
  • The brothers returned to Kansas City’s T-Mobile Center on Tuesday, a little more than a year since their last concert there and on a very big election night for the country.
    — Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 4 Nov. 2026
  • On November 2, robot dogs – and other kinds of machines built for locomotion of some kind – took part in the very first World Robot Mount Taishan Climbing Competition in Tai'an, in China's Shandong province.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of very
Adverb
  • Fortunately for the script, other British and Hessian reënactors had arrived via freeway and the incredibly vast Orchard Beach parking lot.
    — Ian Frazier, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Humanity is both incredibly advanced and evolved and deeply stunted.
    — Fiona Sinclair Scott, CNN Money, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of incredibly
Adverb
  • Ask whether the time changed, the location changed, or someone simply explained it badly.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 3 Nov. 2026
  • The Heat were badly outclassed by Luka Doncic and the Lakers.
    — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of badly
Adverb
  • Hospitals in the north lack health workers, medicines and equipment, while ambulance services are severely limited and insecurity is obstructing medical deliveries, Tedros said.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Utley fractured the vertebrae in his neck and severely damaged his spinal cord.
    — Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of severely
Adverb
  • Republicans not only lost the House, but watched as their hope of keeping a Senate majority slipped away, too — a blue tsunami that was quickly interpreted as a rebuke of the president and his agenda.
    — David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 4 Nov. 2026
  • As California’s Latino population grew and their political power eventually did too, the days when such a victory would have been an inspiring surprise are long gone.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of too

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Cite this Entry

“Heavily.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heavily. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

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