Definition of weightynext
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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 The weighty cost, €30,000 ($35,000), means the students are near entirely from the world’s social elite. John Hopewell, Variety, 9 July 2026 Irish tourist Mick Madeiros, for example, marveled on TikTok that Walmart sells Fruity Pebbles cereal in great big weighty bags, comparing it to the same ones dog kibble comes in. Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 8 July 2026 The piano is both a majestic heirloom and a weighty albatross. Stuart Miller, Oc Register, 7 July 2026 Earthy, ghostly, weighty, touched by humor and grandeur alike. Tom Tapp, Deadline, 6 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for weighty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for weighty
Adjective
  • Senior local official Dagnachew Azbite told the BBC that seven people had been found injured, with five of the victims sustaining serious injuries.
    Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Beyond the figures, a scroll of social media or a quick scan of the girlies at airports and Pilates reformer studios in major cities will tell you that Alo continues to capture serious athleisure market share.
    Lucy Maguire, Vogue, 4 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • That’s important for Cyprus because under an existing agreement, Cypriot energy consumers would have to put up as much as 63% of the cable’s construction cost, meaning a significant jump in electricity prices.
    ABC News, ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026
  • As artificial intelligence revolutionizes how tasks are completed, many people are pleading their cases for why their jobs are important.
    Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 9 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • The massive fire, which brought more than 300 firefighters to the scene, was finally put out by Wednesday evening.
    Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • As a senior leader or mid-level executive tired of the grind, consider the massive opportunity hiding in plain sight.
    Sho Dewan, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Both are powerful spots of natural beauty and deep cultural significance, but for a less solemn outing, the little islet of Ojima sits neatly between the two.
    Jessica Kozuka, Travel + Leisure, 2 Aug. 2026
  • After seeing corrupt cops rewarded with medals and politics debase his best friend, now the courts can’t even be trusted to perform their solemn duty.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 2 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Another throughline for popular progressive candidates is the backing of Hasan Piker, who has become one of the most influential voices in the current wave of democratic socialist victories.
    Mikayla Price, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Graves, who chairs the influential House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, has been hailed for bringing money back to Kansas City and his district, but also faced criticism for being unavailable to constituents.
    Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 5 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • The cushion cut cocktail rings give major Taylor energy, which is why they're beloved by Swifties and beyond.
    ABC News, ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Speraw highlights women's volleyball as America's largest girls' team sport, yet commercially underdeveloped, presenting a huge opportunity for growth and major sponsorship.
    Tim Genske, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • The agency predicted strong winds, heavy rain and high waves in the Okinawa region through Sunday, urging residents in the area to stay indoors.
    ABC News, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Hurricane Helene brought heavy rain and high winds across Georgia.
    Carson Bonner, AJC.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • The Indian government last month issued a stern warning to Instagram to remove child abuse ads on its platform that followed a warning to WhatsApp over the rollout of a username feature.
    Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 7 Aug. 2026
  • According to Jane, Burke was generally a caring and attentive friend, but also stern.
    Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Weighty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weighty. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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