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.
The stem is slightly short, and the glass feels a bit top-heavy when full, but not uncomfortably so. Laura Denby, People.com, 13 Dec. 2024 The Yankees had baseball's No. 3 offense this year, scoring 815 runs with a top-heavy lineup that's now suddenly without a key contributor. David K. Li, NBC News, 9 Dec. 2024 Designed by modernist architect Marcel Breuer, the 1960s building is known for its austere, top-heavy form, punctuated by a handful of trapezoidal windows. Oscar Holland, CNN, 5 Dec. 2024 If traditional powerhouses such as Michigan, USC, Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Washington can rebound next season, the Big Ten’s depth could grow to rival the SEC’s, reshaping its reputation as a top-heavy league. Giovanni Malloy, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near top-heavy

Cite this Entry

“Top-heavy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/top-heavy. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

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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