weighty

[wey-tee]

adjective

weightier, weightiest 

1. having considerable weight; heavy; ponderous.

   a weighty bundle.

   Antonyms: light

2. burdensome or troublesome.

   the weightier cares of sovereignty.

3. important or momentous.

   weighty negotiations.

   Synonyms: consequential, grave, serious, significant
   Antonyms: unimportant, light

4. having or exerting influence, power, etc.; influential.

   a weighty merchant of Boston.

weighty

/ ˈweɪtɪ /

adjective

1. having great weight

2. important or momentous

3. causing anxiety or worry

Other Word Forms

• weightily adverb
• weightiness noun
• unweighty adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of weighty¹

First recorded in 1480–90; weight, -y ¹

Synonym Study

See heavy.

Example Sentences

The story of how she ended up juggling photographing food with her weighty historical research goes back to her student days.

Read more on BBC

Such girls were meant to burn out before they grew up, before they could accomplish anything weightier than airy charm.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"While it is Krasznahorkai's weighty, rolling syntax that has perhaps become his signature as an author, his style also allows for a lightness of touch and a great lyrical beauty," Academy member Steve Sem-Sandberg said.

Read more on Barron's

Most superhero movies are more concerned with expanding the franchise than using their heroes to dissect weighty cultural and political issues.

Read more on Salon

What’s happening in Paradise and Santa Rosa provide continually evolving answers to weighty questions: When has a community recovered?

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• consequential 
• earnest 
• meaningful 
• momentous 
• portentous 
• significant 
• sober 
• solemn 
• somber 
• substantial