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as in influential
having power over the minds or behavior of others one of the weightiest figures in the field of pediatric medicine

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective weighty differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of weighty are cumbersome, cumbrous, heavy, and ponderous. While all these words mean "having great weight," weighty suggests having actual and not just relative weight.

a load of weighty boxes

How are the words cumbrous and cumbersome related as synonyms of weighty?

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 can heavy be used instead of weighty?

In some situations, the words heavy and weighty are roughly equivalent. However, heavy implies that something has greater density or thickness than the average of its kind or class.

a heavy child for his age

When might ponderous be a better fit than weighty?

The synonyms ponderous and weighty are sometimes interchangeable, but ponderous implies having great weight because of size and massiveness with resulting great inertia.

ponderous elephants in a circus parade

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 weighty However, John Prevost offered some insight into how his younger likes to take a break from weighty ecclesiastical issues when the two get a chance to talk. Matthew Carey, Deadline, 9 May 2025 Although the Polestar 4 feels reasonably weighty like the rest of the range, there’s something reassuring about this solidity. Trinity Francis, Forbes.com, 5 May 2025 The never-ending hurry-up-and-waits are why he’s always got a couple weighty tomes stacked in his lap, his taste running from big-cheese biographies (of Elia Kazan and Abraham Lincoln, among others) to bestsellers, including Conclave. Phoebe Eaton, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2025 But the City Council vote remains a weighty decision and a permanent one, too, Gibson said. Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for weighty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for weighty
Adjective
  • Nobody else can do what Isak does, but Newcastle lack serious backup at centre-forward.
    Chris Waugh, New York Times, 6 June 2025
  • There were no serious injuries reported or arrests made among the crowd of about 500 teenagers.
    David Matthews, New York Daily News, 6 June 2025
Adjective
  • But what’s even more important is how the couple got together in the first place.
    Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 13 June 2025
  • This is one of the most important services of their lives.
    Buddha Lo, People.com, 13 June 2025
Adjective
  • DeBlois dials the cuteness quotient back somewhat while giving this massive animal a genuine presence.
    Peter Debruge, Variety, 9 June 2025
  • While riggers hung massive lights and construction workers assembled the stage on a grueling day before Tyler Childers‘ June 2024 concert at the United Center, three young locals showed up: Cheryl, Larry and Ted.
    Steve Knopper, Billboard, 9 June 2025
Adjective
  • Only the buzz of Israeli drones overhead filled the solemn silence.
    Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 7 June 2025
  • The score becomes grand and syrupy whenever there’s a big emotional revelation; characters deliver solemn soliloquies on the orderly beauty of math.
    Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 6 June 2025
Adjective
  • However, the attributes that make someone truly effective in a comms leadership role are often less flashy, and far more influential, than many people may realize.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
  • After nearly 30 years in the music industry, hip-hop artist Lil Wayne is regarded as one of the most influential performers of his generation.
    Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 3 June 2025
Adjective
  • This happened when the former Crystal Ice plant burned down some years ago in the midst of another major redevelopment project, on the R Street Corridor.
    Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 8 June 2025
  • Officers responded around 4 a.m. to a major accident on Texas 121 and Beach Street.
    Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 June 2025
Adjective
  • When heavy rain occurs, there is a potential for flooding, particularly in areas that are low-lying or prone to floods.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 4 June 2025
  • Bruhn suggests a dark, heavier beer like a dark lager.
    Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 June 2025
Adjective
  • It’s submerged 11 to 15 feet deep, with its stern facing the shore.
    Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 June 2025
  • Tonight: Explore! TAURUS (April 20-May 20) ★★★ Avoid arguments with others today, which might arise with Mercury in your House of Communications at odds with stern Saturn.
    Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 9 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Weighty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weighty. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.

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