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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 There were also weighty critiques of a number of longtime Democratic advisers. Meg Kinnard, Chicago Tribune, 22 July 2025 Netflix did not push back on the Sidemen’s desire to use contestants’ weighty social platforms to big up the season. Max Goldbart, Deadline, 21 July 2025 This lightweight, portable board paired with weighty pieces is an easy way to pick up the classic strategy game. Simon Hill, Wired News, 11 July 2025 When considering any implementation of AI in a business, leadership teams have a weighty responsibility. John Werner, Forbes.com, 26 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for weighty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for weighty
Adjective
  • Some serious symptoms of a West Nile virus infection include fever, severe headaches, stiff neck, disorientation or confusion.
    Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 17 Aug. 2025
  • Away from football, this has more serious ramifications.
    Michael Cox, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Fungi also play an important role in breaking down dead wood and leaves in forest ecosystems.
    Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 2025
  • His background is in sports science, so body mechanics are important to him.
    Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Utah's first national park unfolds like a living painting, where massive sandstone cliffs of cream, pink, and red soar into brilliant blue skies.
    Shelby Knick, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • The massive vessel has a range of 8,000 nautical miles and accommodates 36 crew members and 22 guests.
    Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Shortly after the 12-day war concluded, Khamenei emerged from his bunker to lead a solemn religious ceremony.
    Suzanne Maloney, Foreign Affairs, 6 Aug. 2025
  • China is strongly dissatisfied with and firmly opposed to such actions, and has lodged solemn representations with the Japanese side.
    Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 July 2025
Adjective
  • Understanding those cultures is crucial if brands want to be more influential and persuasive.
    Tim Wragg, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
  • More than three decades after its initial release, one of Indian cinema’s most influential action dramas is gearing up for a return to theaters.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The first major exhibition for Fujimoto (born 1971 in Hokkaido, Japan), designer of the Expo 2025 Grand Ring, presents a comprehensive overview in eight sections with a genuinely immersive and interactive experience.
    Natasha Gural, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
  • Top cheap internet service providers in Louisville, KY Internet service in Louisville is competitive, with several major providers offering coverage across the city.
    Kara McGinley, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • During heavy rain, flooding is possible, especially in low-lying and flood-prone areas.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 15 Aug. 2025
  • Authorities suspect a heavy vehicle - possibly a truck or tractor-trailer - slammed into the back of Tooter’s Toyota Tercel while driving east on Interstate 595 about a mile east of U.S. 441.
    Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Amid the Yankees' slump, Boone's leadership, managing style and willingness to be stern with players have all been questioned.
    Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Aug. 2025
  • Directed by Garry Marshall, this comedy drama has a riveting, deeply ambiguous scene that can be considered a kind of acting triumph for Lohan, who plays a troubled young woman, Rachel, spending the summer with her stern grandmother (Jane Fonda).
    Tom Gliatto, People.com, 9 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Weighty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weighty. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.

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