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
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
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Recent Examples of heavy
Adjective
Rice is coming off a major knee injury, and KC is likely to become a more run-heavy offense.—
Jess Bryant,
New York Times,
20 Aug. 2026 Major cities like New York City, Philadelphia, and Baltimore are in the path of the heaviest rain.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
20 Aug. 2026
Noun
Geoffrey Lechantoux is responsible for the French-seafood-heavy menu.—
Nancy Kane,
Curbed,
25 June 2026 Most standard blends are nitrogen-heavy, which encourages leaf growth instead of fruit.—
Nishaa Sharma,
The Spruce,
20 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for heavy
According to a new study published in Geology, the massive escarpment formed around 800 million to 750 million years ago as the ancient supercontinent Rodinia began to break apart.
—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Aug. 2026
Coach Keidane McAlpine hopes the Bulldogs, who dominated from start to finish on a massive stage, left a lasting impression.
The challenge is that the hydrogen evolution reaction is slower in alkaline environments, increasing the need for catalysts that can deliver high activity without rapidly losing performance.
—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
22 Aug. 2026
As Mikhail Gorbachev became Soviet premier and promised new openness with a policy of glasnost, a slow thaw would begin toward free speech, human rights, the release of political dissidents and relaxed restrictions on emigration.
—
Maura Fox,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Aug. 2026
This non-greasy, lightweight formula improves scalp health to promote healthy, thicker, and faster hair growth.
—
Reece Andavolgyi,
InStyle,
26 Aug. 2026
This is a player who has been a modestly above-average finisher throughout his career, and has a serious nose for cashing in greasy goals at the net front.
Ivan’s room feels practically airless, his face obscured in shadows, or captured in hazy side profiles, as Anica’s bright, concerned gaze holds the frame’s focus.
—
Beatrice Loayza,
Variety,
24 Aug. 2026
The cutter has been great for the supinating Cavalli, but the benefit of a new pitch is hazier with some of the small sample guys.
And, once selected, these leaders adhere to a strict code of conduct and undergo intensive training and certification requirements, all of which prize discipline and self-regulation.
—
Emelia S. Probasco,
Foreign Affairs,
20 Aug. 2026
They were concerned rezoning the property would set off a reaction of more intensive zoning for the corridor.
The California Board of Pharmacy in 2025 reversed course on regulations that would have made the supplement more difficult to acquire after pushback from some firefighters.
—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 Aug. 2026
Striking out on her own was a difficult transition, but embracing her solitude gave her the space to learn more about herself and make her own personal decisions, such as getting her cat or making meals of her choosing.
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