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
Open-weight models can run on customer hardware without organizations having to send sensitive data to an external model API. — Karan Alang, Forbes.com, 6 Nov. 2026 From ‘cortisol face’, the TikTok shorthand for facial puffiness allegedly linked to elevated stress, to the weight loss-adjacent ‘Ozempic face’, social media is now a hotbed for decoding what the body might be telling us in the mirror. — Amy Francombe, Vogue, 6 Nov. 2026
Verb
For areas that are part of multiple congressional districts, The Post weighted those population estimates based on the 2020 block-level population residing in each district. — Eric Lau, Washington Post, 9 Oct. 2026 Some determine whether a firm meets baseline requirements; others are weighted to determine its place in the final ranking. — Kelli Grant, Cfp®,riley De León, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for weight
Recent Examples of Synonyms for weight
Noun
  • The 2025 Best of Beauty Award winner glides onto skin and disappears in seconds, leaving no heaviness or greasy residue behind.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The heaviness comes from the fact that the artist died in April, at age forty-six, but it’s also embedded in the paintings on view—in the bursts of fire and swirling floods that mark them.
    — Dan Stahl, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Speaking in Spanish, Leo emphasized the importance of protecting family life and delivered a pointed criticism of both laws.
    — Carrie Kahn, NPR, 7 Nov. 2026
  • The fable emphasizes the importance of valuing and respecting all members of a community, regardless of size, background or abilities.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 6 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • However, this setup places the burden on disabled people to recognize discrimination, document it, and push back.
    — Maribeth Romslo, Rolling Stone, 1 Nov. 2026
  • For working people, patient care coordinators and families who rely on this crossing for their daily commutes, this toll is a crushing financial burden rather than a solution to traffic.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 1 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • Cesar-Nuñez, whose practice is based in Pasadena, noted that traditional Latino cultural values like emphasis on family and reputation can serve as deterrents for seeking therapy or other help.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Atop the mesh base, most of the overlays are also rendered in shaggy shade for a further emphasis on texture.
    — Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 5 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • Investigators found Amy in a separate area with a ligature around her neck and burns covering up to 30% of her body, according to court documents.
    — Leigh Egan, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Several different types of peptides are naturally found in the body, like insulin and endorphins.
    — Renée Onque, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Her acid-folk and chamber-pop influences supply harp, flute, harpsichord, and strings, while the Jamaican influences bring low frequencies, echo, and electronic manipulation to her organic sounds.
    — Emma Madden, Pitchfork, 4 Nov. 2026
  • If Democrats can win a broader majority, their influence could prove more limited.
    — Elena Moore, NPR, 4 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • Education — a predictor of health risk factors including smoking, obesity, cardiovascular risk, and preventive screening rates — has become increasingly aligned with political geography.
    — Brandon Yan, STAT, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Researchers from McGill University in Canada and the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom enrolled 96 adults between the ages of 18 and 45 who were living with obesity and early-onset type 2 diabetes.
    — Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Keeping the ship flying night after night took around 100 roadies and stagehands, who had to disassemble it, load it up, haul it to the next city and reassemble it after every gig.
    — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Crude oil tankers are docked and loaded at the Bajo Grande oil terminal on Lake Maracaibo in San Francisco, Zulia state, Venezuela, on September 1, 2026.
    — Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Weight.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weight. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

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