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
But this approach also limits their potential to deliver on-site, low-carbon heat and electricity to heavy energy users like aluminum, steel, or chemical plants. —Anna Heim, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2025 Pakistan has experienced a series of deadly floods through the summer monsoon season, but a fresh deluge of heavy rain in early September intensified the humanitarian crisis. —Shannon K. Kingston, ABC News, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
As population has grown, Winans said, demand for police services has gone up all over the district, which is the most populous and crash-heavy in the state. —Idaho Statesman, 13 Aug. 2025 Or heavies like Hilton Als, Helen Shaw, Brian Dillon, and Dawn Lundy Martin. —Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 24 July 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
  • 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
Definition of massive
Adjective
  • Biden, who ended his bid for a second White House term 107 days before last year's election, has been relatively slow to move on presidential library planning compared with most of his recent predecessors.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Sep. 2025
  • With Parkinson’s, doctors implant electrodes in the brain that produce electrical impulses to disrupt the abnormal signals that cause tremors, stiffness and slow movement.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2025
Definition of slow
Adjective
  • Dip a microfiber cloth into the water and then gently scrub away any greasy spots on your cabinets.
    — Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 6 Sep. 2025
  • And because Rhode is all about keeping skin health front of mind, the product ensures lasting hydration that never enters greasy territory.
    — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 5 Sep. 2025
Definition of greasy
Adjective
  • Granted, people’s memories can get a little hazy at times, but here’s an unscientific sample of what some other metro music fans hold dearest about Memorial Hall.
    — Randy Mason, Kansas City Star, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Keeping the tradition alive Every year on a hazy summer evening, Hoosiers gather at Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area in Linton to learn the ropes.
    — Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 9 Sep. 2025
Definition of hazy
Adjective
  • Oysters inspired the researchers because of their remarkable ability to attach to rocks, bridge pilings, or even each other in the harsh underwater environment.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 13 Sep. 2025
  • But the rules of the Long Walk are harsh and the stakes could not be higher.
    — Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Definition of harsh
Adjective
  • Zack recently completed five weeks of intensive training with his handler, Deputy Trisha List.
    — Clifford Ward, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Measles, for example, was eliminated in the US in 2000 through intensive vaccination.
    — Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2025
Definition of intensive
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
Definition of serious
Adjective
  • The Bulls look to be the best team in the Group of Five conferences, while the Gators and coach Billy Napier are now under pressure with a difficult SEC schedule ahead.
    — Erick Smith, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Usually the final day of boot camp is most difficult.
    — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 8 Sep. 2025
Definition of difficult

Phrases Containing heavy

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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 14 Sep. 2025.

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