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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
Signs of overheating include muscle cramping, dizziness, unusually heavy sweating, shortness of breath, headaches, weakness and nausea. CBS News, 28 June 2026 Chalky lotions have morphed into invisible gels; heavy, greasy layers now blend away without a trace. Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 28 June 2026
Noun
The morning meal is becoming the most protein-heavy of the day in many homes, a notable change from the carb-forward cereals and pastries that once defined the American breakfast table. Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 4 June 2026 Even the tech-heavy Nasdaq made it into positive territory. Jeff Marks, CNBC, 4 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for heavy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heavy
Adjective
  • The country also has made a massive push to switch to electric vehicles, which reduced Chinese oil consumption by 1 million barrels per day, the International Energy Agency estimates.
    David Goldman, CNN Money, 25 June 2026
  • The brand is celebrating Prime Day with massive markdowns on its latest and greatest electronics like the Apple Watch SE 3, the AirPods Pro 3, and the 2026 MacBook Air laptop.
    Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 25 June 2026
Adjective
  • What to expect over the weekend Though Friday was expected to be the slowest day of the competition, the atmosphere at Cal Expo was anything but dull.
    Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 27 June 2026
  • Some residents are calling for civilian volunteers to help clear debris, frustrated by the slow pace of the rescue operations.
    Osmary Hernández, CNN Money, 27 June 2026
Adjective
  • Texas barbecue is my personal favorite, but that was definitely a shock, the greasy processed-ness of the food.
    Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026
  • Frankie Neal, the winner of the 2026 Gloucester greasy pole contest.
    Neal Riley, CBS News, 26 June 2026
Adjective
  • Nearly everyone knows the Boston Tea Party; many can summon at least a hazy memory of the Stamp Act or the Townshend duties.
    Joseph Thorndike, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
  • That could result in a slightly muted sky and a softer, hazier sun angle through the afternoon, though surface visibility impacts should remain limited.
    Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 29 June 2026
Adjective
  • Plant magnolias somewhere they will be protected from harsh winds, especially when buds or flowers are developing.
    Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 25 June 2026
  • Most clarifying shampoos tend to be a little harsh and drying, but this one is gentle and nourishing.
    Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 25 June 2026
Adjective
  • Housed in remote data centers whose energy-intensive maintenance perpetuates the changing environmental conditions that threaten Tuvalu’s existence, the attempt to redeposit territory digitally drives home the paradoxes, and costs, of storage.
    Kelly Presutti, ARTnews.com, 26 June 2026
  • Qatari mediators returned to the Iranian capital for 17 hours of what the diplomat described as intensive negotiations.
    E. Eduardo Castillo, Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2026
Adjective
  • Beijing has and been accused of serious human violations, including large-scale arbitrary detention of Uyghur and other Muslim minorities, in Xinjiang.
    Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 1 July 2026
  • Prosecutors said Anthony Edmond and Rafael Enriquez face the most serious charges, including conspiracy involving firearms trafficking, machineguns and drug trafficking.
    Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026
Adjective
  • Aviation experts said those conditions would have been difficult to navigate that evening when the helicopter, a Robinson R66, crashed in the Dawson Forest Wildlife Management Area.
    Caroline Silva, AJC.com, 29 June 2026
  • But traffic on the waterway remains a fraction of pre-war levels with different authorities vying to organize the transit of vessels, leaving operators with a difficult choice over which path to take.
    Xiaoqian Lin, CNN Money, 29 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Heavy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heavy. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.

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