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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 character is rich and multilayered—a very weighty role. Gavin J Blair, HollywoodReporter, 2 Nov. 2025 But the varied syncopation and intense emotional registers of Orthodox worship music informed his approach to an album that balances weighty introspection with buoyant production and evocative imagery. Hannah Giorgis Yohannes, Rolling Stone, 20 Oct. 2025 All raise fair points (okay, maybe not the guys obsessed with the Roman Empire), but, more importantly, present the player with weighty paths forward as that region of the former United States tries to rebuild. Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 19 Oct. 2025 The show features two Michaels — Connor Antico covers the Wham era; Winberry takes on the more weighty solo stuff. Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for weighty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for weighty
Adjective
  • If Haaland isn’t my choice here, there should be serious consideration at The Athletic about sacking me.
    Andy Jones, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
  • As for the safety of the drug, about 10% of the adults taking enlicitide experienced serious adverse events during the study and a similar share, about 12%, of those taking a placebo experienced adverse events in the study.
    Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Tire tread depth - Checking your tire tread before hitting the road is important, as low or no tread can lead to sliding.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 9 Nov. 2025
  • While collective structure and movements are really important for Perez’s teams, his players must actively think about each decision on the pitch, not just robotically follow instructions from the coaching staff.
    Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • China has undertaken a massive expansion of sites linked to missile production since 2020, bolstering its ability to potentially deter the US military and assert its dominance in the region, a new CNN analysis of satellite images, maps and government notices reveals.
    Tamara Qiblawi, CNN Money, 7 Nov. 2025
  • For Native people, the war marked a dangerous fork in the road, stirring famine, spurring a massive refugee crisis, and permanently shifting the balance of power in the heart of the continent.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • While solemn Veterans Day remembrance ceremonies were taking place at the National WWI Museum and Memorial on Tuesday, people were also there observing the holiday by making replicas of poppies.
    Emily Curiel, Kansas City Star, 12 Nov. 2025
  • The solemn occasion is a time to reflect on these American patriots who made the ultimate sacrifice.
    Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The death of former Vice President Dick Cheney earlier this week has evoked divisive reflections across the United States toward one of Washington's most influential figures of the century.
    Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2025
  • Political contacts In the late-1990s and 2000s, while Itera was reporting billions in annual revenue, the company cultivated relationships with influential politicians.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Here's your daily look at traffic on major highways in the Kansas City area.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 9 Nov. 2025
  • Obviously, injuries are playing a major factor, but will the Sabres even be able to stay afloat until the lineup is fully healthy?
    Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Another guard with a fresh cut above his eye told Reuters he had been hit in the head by a heavy drumstick thrown from the crowd.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 12 Nov. 2025
  • Black walnuts have an extremely hard shell that requires special tools or a heavy hammer to crack.
    Randy Moll, Arkansas Online, 11 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • On Academy Street, taken over by Dominicans, the Fourth translated into a jubilant handful of families and neighbors on each stretch of sidewalk, with speakers, folding chairs, and beer bottles at the foot of stern buildings.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025
  • The boat can easily accommodate a dozen guests, thanks to the abundant seating, including a rear-facing lounge at the stern and bow lounge.
    Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 7 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Weighty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weighty. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.

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