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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in greasy

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

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as in hazy

covered over by clouds heavy skies threatening rain

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as in harsh

difficult to endure they paid a heavy price for their mistakes

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as in intensive

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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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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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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as in pregnant

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

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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

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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

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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

According to Fiji Meteorological Services, there are active weather warnings in Fiji on April 5 for flash floods, heavy rain and a tropical cyclone. —

Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 5 Apr. 2026 True to form for Nintendo, though, Mario remains nonverbal in the game, despite its 20-plus hour length and dialogue-heavy sequences. —

Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 5 Apr. 2026

Noun

Specifically, Alioto sought to reimagine the magazine as a many-pronged vehicle for promising tastes—like those of regular contributors and critical heavies, Grace Byron and Greta Rainbow. —

Literary Hub, 5 Mar. 2026 Absinthe-eyed, she projectile-vomits blunt observations and also oysters onto the heavies, overimbibing her way into her own grave once she’s inevitably discarded with a shot and shove down a stairwell (a barely-there John Magaro plays one of the gangsters). —

Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 4 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for heavy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for heavy

Adjective

Unique attractions like the Hattiesburg Pocket Museum and the nearby Lucky Rabbit, a massive vintage store known for its creative displays, also attract visitors, Dorsey said.

— ABC News, ABC News, 9 Apr. 2026
Yearning to light some tech on fire is a relatable feeling these days, as generative artificial intelligence promises to supplant nearly every form of non-physical labor, social media wreaks havoc on the mental health of young people, and massive data centers loom as environmental blights.

— Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2026

Definition of massive

Browse Nearby Words

heaving

heavy

heavy-duty

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Style

“Heavy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heavy. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.

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Synonyms of heavy

adjective

noun

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Phrases Containing heavy

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Cite this Entry

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