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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

Examples 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 weighty topic: Has anything changed between the exes, now that Jessica is back in D.C.? Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 4 Nov. 2024 Still, the big reveal didn't add too much pressure to the already weighty role. EW.com, 22 Oct. 2024 Dream Pairs Platform Loafers These weighty platform loafers with horsebit details are reminiscent of designer versions, but with an under-$40 price tag. Esme Benjamin, People.com, 18 Oct. 2024 Thread count tends to exceed 200 and percale weave feels weighty but is breathable enough to be one of the top picks for warm weather and hot sleepers. Nora Taylor, Architectural Digest, 30 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for weighty 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for weighty
Adjective
  • Quality dropped like a stone and serious wine drinkers lost interest.
    Paul Caputo, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
  • Honolulu Emergency Medical Services told CNN that the patients’ injuries included a serious head injury, lacerations, bruising and loss of consciousness.
    Alexandra Skores, CNN, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Get best-in-class reporting that's too important to ignore for just $2.50 $1 per month for 1 year.
    Julian Chokkattu, WIRED, 8 Dec. 2024
  • Though Willis and Moore have both gone on to remarry (and divorce, for Moore's part) Willis' relationship with his ex continues to be an important one.
    Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 8 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Burnes appears to be in no rush to sign his massive contract, but neither the Giants nor the Blue Jays appear to be backing down anytime soon.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 17 Dec. 2024
  • Ascension is a massive not-for-profit health system, whereas Prime includes the for-profit Prime Healthcare Services and an affiliated charity called the Prime Healthcare Foundation, under which 14 of Prime’s hospitals operate.
    Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 17 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • But less interesting doesn’t mean less impactful, as Foxx imbues with solemn reverence the emotional turmoil of re-learning to stand, walk, and clean himself.
    Lucy Ford, TIME, 10 Dec. 2024
  • The actors are prime, but the movie is a solemn affair that could use more grandeur.
    Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 6 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Now an influential name in the industry, Vincent’s journey began in a different realm: geology.
    Kody Boye, USA TODAY, 12 Dec. 2024
  • Influencers are the New Holiday Shopping Guides This season, influencers will be more influential than ever, acting as virtual shopping assistants for millions of holiday consumers.
    Nandan Sheth, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • In 2022, Biden signed into law the first major federal gun reform in three decades, about a month after an 18-year-old man opened fire at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, killing 19 students and two teachers.
    Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 17 Dec. 2024
  • State officials said the new investment is expected to create hundreds of new, high-paying jobs by the end of 2030 and increase Ohio’s role as a major technology hub.
    J.D. Davidson | The Center Square, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 16 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • At Boston’s Logan airport, inbound flights on average were delayed by more than two hours, and two dozens flights were canceled, according to FlightAware. Steamship Authority ferries to and from Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard were canceled as well, the service said, citing heavy winds.
    NBC Boston, NBC News, 12 Dec. 2024
  • Health Challenges: Almost 40 percent of hospitals and health facilities in Syria are partly or completely non-functional, disrupting essential services or halting them altogether; displacement due to conflict or other crises exacts a heavy toll on children’s mental health.
    Maryanne Murray Buechner, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Eldest children may create stern rules for their kids, such as a chore chart and strict bedtime routines.
    Alex Vance, Parents, 9 Dec. 2024
  • The speaker of the National Assembly read a stern statement on camera demanding that the president hold off a visit to the National Assembly until security matters are ironed out.
    Joohee Cho, ABC News, 7 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near weighty

Cite this Entry

“Weighty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weighty. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on weighty

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