1
: having the top part too heavy for the lower part
2
: having too high a proportion of administrators
a top-heavy bureaucracy
3
: oversupplied with one element at the expense of others : lacking balance
a novel top-heavy with description

Examples of top-heavy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Cramer is referencing the idea that some investors worry the market has become too top-heavy and are looking for stock opportunities in potentially under-the-radar places. Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 8 Sep. 2025 The Raiders are a top-heavy team built to press the softest pressure points on Vrabel’s roster. Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 4 Sep. 2025 Repotting top-heavy and overgrown monsteras into larger and heavier containers can keep unwieldy plants from toppling over. Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Aug. 2025 On the other hand, Houston’s pitching staff needs Cristian Javier to continue his impressive comeback from Tommy John surgery to stabilize its top-heavy rotation. Chandler Rome, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for top-heavy

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1531, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of top-heavy was circa 1531

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Top-heavy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/top-heavy. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

top-heavy

adjective
ˈtäp-ˌhev-ē
: having the top part too heavy for the lower part

More from Merriam-Webster on top-heavy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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