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Definition of heavynext
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as in slow
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest the study of history doesn't have to be all about dull heavy reading and the memorization of dates

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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heavy

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective heavy differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of heavy are cumbersome, cumbrous, ponderous, and weighty. While all these words mean "having great weight," heavy implies that something has greater density or thickness than the average of its kind or class.

a heavy child for his age

How are the words cumbrous and cumbersome related as synonyms of heavy?

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 could ponderous be used to replace heavy?

The meanings of ponderous and heavy largely overlap; however, ponderous implies having great weight because of size and massiveness with resulting great inertia.

ponderous elephants in a circus parade

Where would weighty be a reasonable alternative to heavy?

In some situations, the words weighty and heavy are roughly equivalent. However, weighty suggests having actual and not just relative weight.

a load of weighty boxes

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 heavy
Adjective
Additional locations may experience flooding during periods of heavy rainfall, high winds, or other factors. Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 14 June 2026 The blast tied the game at 7-7 and then heavy rains halted play. Kansas City Star, 14 June 2026
Noun
Essentially, those who already coached ‘big club’ football — high pressing, possession-heavy — tend to perform quite well. Michael Cox, New York Times, 25 May 2026 Where to Eat and Drink Because of Ocracoke’s coastal location, the dining scene here is very seafood-heavy. Caroline Eubanks, Travel + Leisure, 22 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for heavy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heavy
Adjective
  • Earlier this year, the Department of Homeland Security awarded a contract to a company that makes a drone with massive nets to ensnare other drones.
    Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026
  • This $200,000 bad check appears to be just the tip of a massive financial iceberg.
    Alejandro Avila, FOXNews.com, 17 June 2026
Adjective
  • The Virgo moon invites you to take a slower pace today.
    USA TODAY, USA Today, 20 June 2026
  • The Targaryen civil war has been a bit of a slow burn so far, though both sides of the family have suffered major casualties.
    Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
Adjective
  • For greasy buildup, use a drop of grease-cutting dish detergent on the cloth and lightly scrub, then wipe the soap away with a damp cloth.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 11 June 2026
  • With continued use, the lightweight, non-greasy formula helps invigorate roots, improve blood flow, and minimize shedding.
    Jenny Berg, Vogue, 10 June 2026
Adjective
  • Scratches, streaks, and a hazy appearance are common results of treating oven glass like any other surface, especially when stains have been baked on for some time.
    Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 17 June 2026
  • Three signature beer varieties were poured by the craft brewery, including its Kit Kupker, an amber ale; Devil’s Paint Box, a West Coast IPA; and Honest Haze, a hazy IPA.
    Karie Angell Luc, Chicago Tribune, 16 June 2026
Adjective
  • Ahead of the holiday, the City of Rancho Cordova is cracking down with much harsher penalties.
    Brady Halbleib, CBS News, 19 June 2026
  • Members of his party who want even harsher border controls have splintered off to form Restore Britain, which has gained support from Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who is vociferously backing it on his X platform.
    Alexander Smith, NBC news, 18 June 2026
Adjective
  • There’s nothing like an invasive hours-long aesthetic procedure with anesthesia to justify intensive pampering.
    Merle Ginsberg, HollywoodReporter, 19 June 2026
  • Governments and energy-intensive firms will look at electrification with newfound interest.
    Justin Worland, Time, 19 June 2026
Adjective
  • My office will continue to vigorously prosecute defendants who pose serious threats to our community’s safety, especially our children.
    Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 19 June 2026
  • In a touching tribute, Saliba ran over to the sideline after scoring and held up the jersey of Ismaël Koné, the teammate who left the field on a stretcher minutes earlier after suffering what looked to be a serious leg injury.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 19 June 2026
Adjective
  • The verdict was delivered amid difficult personal circumstances for Mette-Marit, Hoiby’s mother, who needs a lung transplant for pulmonary fibrosis.
    Reuters, CNN Money, 15 June 2026
  • Otherwise, those prospects start becoming large contracts that stand more difficult to move or aggregate.
    Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 14 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Heavy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heavy. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.

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