HEAVY Synonyms: 701 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

heavy 1 of 2

adjective

ˈhe-vē

Definition of heavy next

as in massive

having great weight this trunk full of books is much too heavy for one person to lift

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

as in greasy

containing much seasoning, fat, or sugar avoid heavy desserts like cheesecake and pecan pie

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in hazy

covered over by clouds heavy skies threatening rain

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in harsh

difficult to endure they paid a heavy price for their mistakes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in intensive

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in serious

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in difficult

requiring considerable physical or mental effort until we find our groove, it's going to be heavy sledding on this project

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in pregnant

containing unborn young within the body the heifer was heavy with young and soon would be birthing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

heavy

2 of 2

noun

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

How does the adjective heavy differ from other similar words?

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

This pair from Grapent has that easy, slightly structured look but still feels soft thanks to the cotton-heavy fabric. —

Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 26 Apr. 2026 While the parks can expect heavy traffic, a drop in international tourism and the rise in gas prices has injected additional uncertainty into the tourism industry this year. —

Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026

Noun

The Nuggets don’t need Jokic to play the heavy in the locker room. —

Troy Renck, Denver Post, 25 Mar. 2026 How the Script Walks a Tonal Tightrope Radcliffe credited playwrights Macmillan and Donahoe with building a structure that lets the performer pivot rapidly between the heavy and the silly. —

Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 13 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for heavy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for heavy

Adjective

There is evidence that the planet is healing amid massive efforts to mitigate climate change and fight biodiversity loss.

— Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026
Since then, though refillable marketing has continued, increasingly savvy beauty consumers have come to increasingly see the concept as more about greenwashing than real impact on our massive packaging waste problem.

— Kara McGrath, Allure, 22 Apr. 2026

Definition of massive

Browse Nearby Words

heaving

heavy

heavy-duty

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Heavy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heavy. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of heavy

adjective

noun

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on heavy

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

speculate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

5 Verbal Slip Ups and Language Mistakes

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Other Words for Beautiful

Was 'nervous Nellie' a Real Person?

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

Popular

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

The Longest Long Words List

9 Other Words for Beautiful

Games & Quizzes

Synonyms of heavy

adjective

noun

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Phrases Containing heavy

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on heavy

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

speculate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

5 Verbal Slip Ups and Language Mistakes

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Other Words for Beautiful

Was 'nervous Nellie' a Real Person?

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

Popular

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

The Longest Long Words List

9 Other Words for Beautiful

Games & Quizzes