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
In New York City, for instance, the weight of buildings compresses the region’s soft soils. — Sanidhya Sharma, Scientific American, 30 Oct. 2026 Mixed-status families Twenty-four-year-old Deisy España of Wisconsin also feels the weight of her family's immigrant history. — Saige Miller, NPR, 30 Oct. 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 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
  • But the songs also carry the heaviness of Seattle’s sonic palette too.
    — Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 23 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • That refusal does not bode well for their ability to impartially decide matters involving this administration, and underscores the importance of the Senate’s confirmation power.
    — James Speyer, New York Daily News, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Innovation is nurtured from top to bottom by giving it the same importance as day-to-day operations.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • As case counts surged in the initial months of the outbreak, population and demographic data revealed who was shouldering the greatest burdens.
    — Julie Morita, Time, 25 Oct. 2026
  • These were expensive and life-changing burdens, even for those who avoided trial and conviction.
    — Barton Gellman, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Open for breakfast, Sunday brunch (a buffet sometimes accompanied by live jazz), lunch, and dinner, The Bistro serves American classics, with a natural emphasis on seafood.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Redevelopment over the past decade has focused heavily on residential uses, with an emphasis on 55-and-older homes.
    — Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 29 Oct. 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
  • With this election, Sanders and Warren have an opportunity to steer Democrats further left and turn that political influence into a legislative agenda that is more adversarial toward big business and the private sector.
    — David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Earlier Delft experiments focused on electron spins and their influence on nuclear spins through hyperfine coupling.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 28 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The American Heart Association said body clock disruptions carry an increased risk of obesity, among other medical issues.
    — Hannah Poukish, Sacbee.com, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Pregnancy and childbirth are costly processes, increasing cardiac output, hypercoagulability, abdominal obesity, and risk of gestational diabetes.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • An error from the Brewers gave the Rays enough momentum to load the bases.
    — Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Within two days, Flowers recalled, Jain and Ketkar had loaded the reminder bot with her scripts.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Weight.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weight. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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