Definition of weightnext
1
as in heaviness
the amount that something weighs because of a back condition, I'm not allowed to lift anything with a weight of over 10 pounds

Synonyms & Similar Words

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weight

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun weight differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of weight are consequence, importance, moment, and significance. While all these words mean "a quality or aspect having great worth or significance," weight implies a judgment of the immediate relative importance of something.

the argument carried no weight with the judge

When might consequence be a better fit than weight?

The synonyms consequence and weight are sometimes interchangeable, but consequence generally implies importance because of probable or possible effects.

the style you choose is of little consequence

When is it sensible to use importance instead of weight?

In some situations, the words importance and weight are roughly equivalent. However, importance implies a value judgment of the superior worth or influence of something or someone.

a region with no cities of importance

Where would moment be a reasonable alternative to weight?

While in some cases nearly identical to weight, moment implies conspicuous or self-evident consequence.

a decision of great moment

When can significance be used instead of weight?

The words significance and weight can be used in similar contexts, but significance implies a quality or character that should mark a thing as important but that is not self-evident and may or may not be recognized.

the treaty's significance

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 weight
Noun
That’s a no-no for the National Flood Insurance Program and the Florida Building Code, because single family homes are not usually designed to handle the weight of all that heavy, heavy water pushing on them. — Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026 Tasks that belonged together had become separate obligations, each carrying the emotional weight of an unfinished thing. — Morissa Schwartz, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
Verb
European Union countries committed about 92 million barrels, a promise weighted toward refined products made from crude such as diesel. — Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026 If Cruise hadn’t spent the last 15 years trying not to be that Tom Cruise, Digger wouldn’t be so weighted by expectations. — Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 29 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for weight
Recent Examples of Synonyms for weight
Noun
  • Symptoms can include leg heaviness, aching, swelling, throbbing and itching, Stoughton said.
    — Erica Sloan, Washington Post, 10 Oct. 2026
  • The only heaviness lies within the natural materials found throughout the resort, like grounding lava stone, copper, and indigenous Tzalam wood.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The princess has also increasingly made the importance of nature a focus of her work, including last year's release of a four-part video series on the power of nature.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Silver’s comments underscore the importance the league places on obtaining that information.
    — Jessica Golden,Contessa Brewer, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • And the global threats to health risk amplifying existing inequalities, with the greatest burden falling on the most vulnerable communities.
    — Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2026
  • But carrying that burden forward with nothing more than hope to balance it, passing it on to future generations, explaining it to strangers, is too much.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • That formula feels even more relevant today, and what makes the T especially compelling is that its emphasis on driver engagement does not come at the cost of day-to-day livability.
    — Bradley Iger, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Atlas build efficiency The emphasis on manufacturing efficiency extends to the design of Atlas itself.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Its members are independent producers, with no studios, conglomerates or state bodies involved.
    — Lin Ying-Hsuan, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Yet no official body seems to have been in charge of vetting them.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 10 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Wall Street’s role in financing the AI boom and data centers, a contentious election issue, as well as its influence on housing and other affordability challenges, is also likely to draw scrutiny, said attorneys and analysts.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The Mexican pop icon will receive the accolade in recognition of an exceptional career spanning over three decades and his enduring influence on Latin music.
    — Sigal Ratner-Arias, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The first death reportedly occurred in July, when a healthcare professional informed the FDA that a 41-year-old woman with obesity went into cardiac arrest.
    — Daniel Gilbert, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The study, which analyzed nearly 800,000 individuals across their lifespan, found that clinical obesity rates climbed through adulthood.
    — Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Later in the inning, Dodgers reliever Alex Vesia walked in the tying run (credited to starter Tyler Glasnow for having initially loaded the bases).
    — Greg Rosenstein, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Storyteller experiments with some next-generation convertible furniture designs to make the new van even more versatile and better equipped for loading up gear.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 15 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Weight.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weight. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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