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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

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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
But, in the week before summer officially begins, heavy makeup looks have had a shocking surge. Essence, 16 June 2025 Imagine a group of a thousand heavy smokers in their sixties. Siddhartha Mukherjee, New Yorker, 16 June 2025
Noun
On Twin Peaks, Strong plays Jones, the right-hand woman for one of the series’ heavies. Drew MacKie, People.com, 8 Apr. 2025 And if nothing else, there’s always the heavies to fall back on. Sean T. Collins, Vulture, 27 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for heavy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heavy
Adjective
  • The 1984 Games were also privately funded and hailed as a massive success for their $225 million surplus that was invested in youth sports.
    Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2025
  • Food vendors sizzled meats at vendor stalls and kept juices in massive, unlabeled canisters under the gritty subway underpass – devoid of any labels or apparent sanitation or health and safety standards.
    Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 9 June 2025
Adjective
  • Strain into a highball glass, while simultaneously adding the club soda together in one slow stream to achieve the fluffy, towering fizz.
    Jillian Dara, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • And while the Canadian industry made early gains to close a gender gap in the film and TV industry, making strides in advancing and promoting talent from underrepresented Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities has been slower and more incremental.
    Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 9 June 2025
Adjective
  • This helps keep the finished dish from being too greasy.
    Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 May 2025
  • The lightweight gel texture feels like a refreshing glass of water upon application, instantly cooling and reviving the skin without leaving it greasy.
    Denise Primbet, Glamour, 28 May 2025
Adjective
  • This week, hazy skies are reminiscent of the intense Canadian wildfires of 2023, which made Chicago the second-most-polluted major city in the country that year.
    Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2025
  • And some apps actively blur the already hazy line between betting and other financial activities.
    Hana Kiros, The Atlantic, 5 June 2025
Adjective
  • Unlike many traditional sunscreens that contain oxybenzone and octinoxate—two common culprits behind coral bleaching—reef-safe formulas skip the harsh stuff in favor of ocean-friendly alternatives that tend to also be gentler on sensitive skin.
    Iman Balagam, Vogue, 16 June 2025
  • Some of them include washing with harsh shampoos, particularly those with sulfates or alcohol; overusing scalp scrubs or clarifying products; and not washing frequently enough.
    Jamie Wilson, Glamour, 16 June 2025
Adjective
  • University of Southern California LOS ANGELES Inspired by Walt Disney artist and Imagineer John C. Hench, USC’s intensive BFA and MFA programs teach animation from a maker’s point of view.
    Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 6 June 2025
  • Russia used a Tu-160 in intensive overnight missile and drone strikes across Ukraine, Kyiv's air force said on Friday.
    Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025
Adjective
  • Make sure your plants are receiving enough water, and treat serious pest problems with neem oil or insecticidal soap.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 17 June 2025
  • According to a 2023 study on maternal health, women are still at risk for developing serious health conditions after the standard postpartum period of six to eight weeks.
    Cynthia McEwen, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
Adjective
  • No matter how sweet, the little crocodile grows bigger and more difficult to care for.
    Leo Barraclough, Variety, 10 June 2025
  • Despite her risky gambit, Metcalfe, who is studying to be an attorney at the University of Law in Manchester, England, admits that her sport has helped her through some of the most difficult times of her life.
    Andy Frye, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Heavy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heavy. Accessed 20 Jun. 2025.

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