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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
So that’s where humans come from, where life comes from, where the Solar System comes from, and where heavy elements come from. Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 16 Sep. 2025 Then again, very few people will ever be that tall and that heavy. Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Noun
As population has grown, Winans said, demand for police services has gone up all over the district, which is the most populous and crash-heavy in the state. Idaho Statesman, 13 Aug. 2025 Or heavies like Hilton Als, Helen Shaw, Brian Dillon, and Dawn Lundy Martin. Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 24 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for heavy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heavy
Adjective
  • The same goes for its overall profile, though, there’s a lot going on in its front fascia—the side venting is seemingly there for function, but the massive grille is… a lot.
    Peter Nelson, Forbes.com, 20 Sep. 2025
  • The mining of coal, for example, unleashes massive amounts of methane into the atmosphere.
    Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • By presenting domestic routines with the same creativity and attention to detail as a fashion spread, Smith has shifted the cultural conversation, making intentional, slow living as aspirational as her ensembles themselves.
    Cortne Bonilla, Vogue, 21 Sep. 2025
  • In each of our benchmarks, the Swift Go 16's Intel Core Ultra 9 285H—the fastest chipset in Intel’s Core Ultra 2 lineup—led this pack against the laptops with the slower Core Ultra 7.
    Mark Coppock, PC Magazine, 21 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Big, cumbersome, and greasy, baking sheets can be a pain to clean and dry off.
    Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 21 Sep. 2025
  • Then, watch as your greasy roots—and the product itself—disappear.
    Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Rat Saw God than an extension of its hazy Southern world-building, Bleeds is Wednesday at their best—again.
    Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 19 Sep. 2025
  • Inside, police investigator Michael Ely found the interior hazy with smoke, and no one was present in the home except for the family dog, Oakley.
    Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • These findings highlight an urgent need to shield stem cells from the harsh realities of space.
    Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 20 Sep. 2025
  • Rain is coming, penciled in for an hour or two from now, and a harsh British wind is flinging leaves off branches and cloaking the countryside with something that smells dungy and damp.
    Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Poore pivoted to other ventures to make ends meet after the storm struck, including trail clearing, trail education and intensive workshops on trail maintenance.
    Graham Hurley, CNN Money, 21 Sep. 2025
  • Dumplings can be time (and labor) intensive to prepare.
    Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 21 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Serving warrants requires officers to arrest a person suspected of committing a serious crime or secure crucial evidence, both situations that up the chances that a dangerous suspect might be lying in wait.
    N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 20 Sep. 2025
  • This lightwear pair at Amazon is on sale for $12—a serious deal considering they’re polarized to ensure UV protection, feature a coating that helps protect against water on rainy days, and have a one-piece nosepad that fits snugly on your face without digging in like some of the metal varieties.
    Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 20 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Winning that game won't be easy, but winning it without Lamb would be even more difficult.
    Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Sep. 2025
  • There will be times, like at a raucous Goodison Park last February, when Everton can rise to an occasion and make life difficult for their neighbours.
    Oliver Kay, New York Times, 21 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Heavy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heavy. Accessed 23 Sep. 2025.

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