heavy
1 of 3adjective
ˈhe-vē 
heavier; heaviest
1
a
: having great weight
also : characterized by mass or weight
how heavy is it?
b
: having a high specific gravity : having great weight in proportion to bulk
Lead and gold are heavy metals.
c(1)
of an isotope : having or being atoms of greater than normal mass for that element
heavy carbons
(2)
of a chemical compound : containing heavy isotopes
heavy ammonia
2
: difficult to bear
specifically : causing or characterized by severe pain or suffering
a heavy sorrow
3
: of weighty import : serious
heavy consequences
4
: characterized by depth or intensity : profound
a heavy silence
5
a
: borne down by something oppressive : burdened
returned with heavy spirit
b
: pregnant
especially : approaching parturition
She is heavy with child.
6
a
: slow or dull from loss of vitality or resiliency : sluggish
a tired heavy step
b
: lacking sparkle or vivacity : drab
a heavy writing style
c
: lacking mirth or gaiety : cheerless
d
: characterized by declining prices
The market is heavy.
7
: dulled with weariness : drowsy
eyes were growing heavy
8
: greater in quantity or quality than the average of its kind or class: such as
a
: of unusually large size or amount
a heavy turnout
b
: of great force
heavy seas
c
: threatening to rain or snow
a heavy sky
heavy clouds
d(1)
: impeding motion
heavy traffic
(2)
: full of clay and inclined to hold water
heavy soil
e
: coming as if from a depth : loud
heavy breathing
f
: thick, dense
a heavy beard
a heavy growth of timber
heavy syrup
g
: oppressive, overwhelming
heavy perfume
heavy weather
rule with a heavy hand
h
: steep, acute
on a heavy grade
i
: laborious, difficult
heavy going
j
: immoderate
a heavy smoker
k
: more powerful than usual for its kind
a heavy cavalry
a heavy cruiser
l
: of large capacity or output
a heavy pump
9
a
: very rich and hard to digest
heavy desserts
b
: not properly raised or leavened
heavy bread
10
: producing goods (such as coal, steel, or chemicals) used in the production of other goods
heavy industry
11
a
: having stress (see stress entry 1 sense 5a)
a heavy rhythm
—used especially of syllables in accentual verse b
: being the strongest degree of stress in speech
the heavy stress on the first syllable of basketball
12
: relating to theatrical parts of a grave or somber nature
playing heavy roles
13
: possessing a high degree or a great deal of something specified : long
heavy on ideas
14
: important, prominent
a heavy politician
heaviness noun
heavy
2 of 3adverb
: to a great or overwhelming degree
weighed heavy on her mind
: with or as if with great weight : in a heavy manner : heavily Clouds hung heavy in the sky.
heavy
3 of 3noun
plural heavies
1
: heavyweight sense 2
2
a
: a theatrical role of a dignified or somber character
also : an actor playing such a role
b
: a character in a story or play who opposes the hero : villain
c
: one blamed for a particular evil or difficulty : villain
d
: someone or something influential, serious, or important
Synonyms
Adjective
- hefty
- massive
- ponderous
- weighty
Noun
- baddie
- baddy
- beast
- brute
- caitiff
- devil
- evildoer
- fiend
- hound
- knave
- meanie
- meany
- miscreant
- monster
- nazi
- no-good
- rapscallion
- rascal
- reprobate
- rogue
- savage
- scalawag
- scallywag
- scamp
- scapegrace
- scoundrel
- varlet
- villain
- wretch
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective “Is that box too heavy for you to lift?” “No, it's not very heavy.” The truck was carrying a heavy load. The man was six feet tall with a heavy build. Turnout for the election is expected to be heavy. We got caught in heavy traffic. Heavy rains caused flooding in the area. She was wearing sunglasses and heavy makeup. The storm caused heavy damage to the building. The company is facing heavy losses this quarter. a day of heavy fighting Adverb The smoke hung heavy in the air. Noun He played the heavy in film after film. The conference will be attended by several media heavies. They have become one of the industry heavies. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Dan Labbe, cleveland, 10 Sep. 2022 The result, painted in heavy impasto, was tiny (just 9 by 6 inches) and predictably controversial. Nick Glass, CNN, 10 Sep. 2022 Though rainfall generally was moderate across Southern California Friday there was a chance of isolated thunderstorms and heavy downpours into Saturday. CBS News, 10 Sep. 2022 Second-year coach Charles Huff, a former Alabama and Penn State assistant, assembled a roster heavy on Power Five transfers such as Labron from Florida State for the school's first season in the Sun Belt. Tom Coyne, ajc, 10 Sep. 2022 Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleh Nikolenko also suggested the Ukrainian troops had retaken Kupiansk, a town along the main supply route to Izyum, long a focus on the Russian front line and the site of heavy artillery and other fighting. Karl Ritter And Joanna Kozlowska, Anchorage Daily News, 10 Sep. 2022 Those calculations focus primarily on the emissions from heavy machinery and long-distance trucking and shipping. WIRED, 10 Sep. 2022 The contemporary iteration of the park opened in 2012 but was designed with a heavy dose of nostalgia for its original days. Rebecca Treon, Chron, 10 Sep. 2022 For example, why were American women encouraged to torture themselves with cage-like corsets, don yards of cumbersome cloth and carry around a heavy protuberance called a bustle? John Kelly, Washington Post, 10 Sep. 2022 Emma Platoff, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Aug. 2022 Tropez appeared on the controversial reality series in 2011, which aimed to help troubled youth turn their lives around with heavy-hitting programs. Charmaine Patterson, Peoplemag, 30 Aug. 2022 The bass master brought the heat, as per usual, creating a heavy-hitting show catering to all tastes in bass music. Lisa Kocay, Forbes, 12 Aug. 2022 Batgirl is getting some support and sympathy from heavy-hitting Hollywood talents. James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Aug. 2022 An indicator that the show has become more startup incubator than facilitator for heavy-hitting outdoor businesses? Julie Dugdale, Outside Online, 10 June 2022 In addition to the welterweight title fight between Usman and Edwards, former UFC Middleweight Champion Luke Rockhold returns to take on the heavy-handed Paulo Costa in the co-main event. Troy L. Smith, cleveland, 20 Aug. 2022 Public anger at the police force for harboring a killer in its ranks was compounded by what many saw as heavy-handed policing of the subsequent vigil. Jill Lawless, ajc, 14 Aug. 2022 Throughout the pandemic, experts and industry leaders have warned that the city's heavy-handed Covid-19 restrictions would drive away residents, travelers and expatriates. Jessie Yeung And Kathleen Magramo, CNN, 12 Aug. 2022 Dave Sebastian, WSJ, 4 July 2022 The same cannot be said for Willis, whose distracted and empty performance as the main heavy is hard to watch after the news of his Aphasia diagnosis. Rene Rodriguez, Variety, 17 May 2022 Many performers instinctively go big when playing the heavy. James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Apr. 2022 Of course, Wood’s signature tech-heavy Innovation fund, in which Zoom is the largest holding, is down 66% from its 52-week high. Jacob Carpenter, Fortune, 9 June 2022 The owner of the Sewol had added extra berths, making the ferry top-heavy. New York Times, 8 June 2022 Bitcoin’s 30-day correlation with the tech-heavy Wall Street index Nasdaq recently rose to a record 0.82. Omkar Godbole, Forbes, 19 May 2022 But odds are that this series will be small-ball heavy, with Powell and Looney playing sparingly. Connor Letourneau, San Francisco Chronicle, 18 May 2022 Though hop heavy, the bitterness is nowhere to be found. Sara Butler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 May 2022 See More
Adjective
Mary Kay Cabot, Ashley Bastock and Dan Labbe offered up three things to watch during Sunday’s Week 1 contest with a heavy focus on the defense and Myles Garrett. Dan Labbe, cleveland, 10 Sep. 2022 The result, painted in heavy impasto, was tiny (just 9 by 6 inches) and predictably controversial. Nick Glass, CNN, 10 Sep. 2022 Though rainfall generally was moderate across Southern California Friday there was a chance of isolated thunderstorms and heavy downpours into Saturday. CBS News, 10 Sep. 2022 Second-year coach Charles Huff, a former Alabama and Penn State assistant, assembled a roster heavy on Power Five transfers such as Labron from Florida State for the school's first season in the Sun Belt. Tom Coyne, ajc, 10 Sep. 2022 Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleh Nikolenko also suggested the Ukrainian troops had retaken Kupiansk, a town along the main supply route to Izyum, long a focus on the Russian front line and the site of heavy artillery and other fighting. Karl Ritter And Joanna Kozlowska, Anchorage Daily News, 10 Sep. 2022 Those calculations focus primarily on the emissions from heavy machinery and long-distance trucking and shipping. WIRED, 10 Sep. 2022 The contemporary iteration of the park opened in 2012 but was designed with a heavy dose of nostalgia for its original days. Rebecca Treon, Chron, 10 Sep. 2022 For example, why were American women encouraged to torture themselves with cage-like corsets, don yards of cumbersome cloth and carry around a heavy protuberance called a bustle? John Kelly, Washington Post, 10 Sep. 2022 Adverb
Palfrey joins a list of heavy-hitting Democratic endorsers in a rare race that has divided some of the state’s most prominent progressives. Emma Platoff, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Aug. 2022 Tropez appeared on the controversial reality series in 2011, which aimed to help troubled youth turn their lives around with heavy-hitting programs. Charmaine Patterson, Peoplemag, 30 Aug. 2022 The bass master brought the heat, as per usual, creating a heavy-hitting show catering to all tastes in bass music. Lisa Kocay, Forbes, 12 Aug. 2022 Batgirl is getting some support and sympathy from heavy-hitting Hollywood talents. James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Aug. 2022 An indicator that the show has become more startup incubator than facilitator for heavy-hitting outdoor businesses? Julie Dugdale, Outside Online, 10 June 2022 In addition to the welterweight title fight between Usman and Edwards, former UFC Middleweight Champion Luke Rockhold returns to take on the heavy-handed Paulo Costa in the co-main event. Troy L. Smith, cleveland, 20 Aug. 2022 Public anger at the police force for harboring a killer in its ranks was compounded by what many saw as heavy-handed policing of the subsequent vigil. Jill Lawless, ajc, 14 Aug. 2022 Throughout the pandemic, experts and industry leaders have warned that the city's heavy-handed Covid-19 restrictions would drive away residents, travelers and expatriates. Jessie Yeung And Kathleen Magramo, CNN, 12 Aug. 2022 Noun
Futures tied to the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average both slipped 0.4% while contracts on the tech-heavy Nasdaq-100 fell 0.5%. Dave Sebastian, WSJ, 4 July 2022 The same cannot be said for Willis, whose distracted and empty performance as the main heavy is hard to watch after the news of his Aphasia diagnosis. Rene Rodriguez, Variety, 17 May 2022 Many performers instinctively go big when playing the heavy. James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Apr. 2022 Of course, Wood’s signature tech-heavy Innovation fund, in which Zoom is the largest holding, is down 66% from its 52-week high. Jacob Carpenter, Fortune, 9 June 2022 The owner of the Sewol had added extra berths, making the ferry top-heavy. New York Times, 8 June 2022 Bitcoin’s 30-day correlation with the tech-heavy Wall Street index Nasdaq recently rose to a record 0.82. Omkar Godbole, Forbes, 19 May 2022 But odds are that this series will be small-ball heavy, with Powell and Looney playing sparingly. Connor Letourneau, San Francisco Chronicle, 18 May 2022 Though hop heavy, the bitterness is nowhere to be found. Sara Butler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 May 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Adjective and Adverb
Middle English hevy, from Old English hefig; akin to Old High German hebīc heavy, Old English hebban to lift — more at heave entry 1
First Known Use
Adjective
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Adverb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above
Noun
1897, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing heavy
Kids Definition
heavy
adjective
ˈhe-vē
heavier; heaviest
1
: having great weight
2
: unusually great in amount, force, or effect
heavy rain
heavy sleep
heavy damage
3
: made with thick strong material
heavy rope
4
: dense and thick
heavy eyebrows
5
: hard to put up with
a heavy responsibility
6
: sad or troubled
It's with a heavy heart that I leave you.
7
: having little strength or energy
My legs grew heavier with every step.
heavy 1 of 2
adjective
1
as in massive
having great weight this trunk full of books is much too heavy for one person to lift Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- massive
- hefty
- ponderous
- substantial
- bulky
- weighty
- solid
- burdensome
- voluminous
- leaden
- massy
- outsized
- lumpish
- outsize
- top-heavy
- overweight
- elephantine
- ultraheavy
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- light
- weightless
- fluffy
- flimsy
- lightweight
- slight
- airy
- feathery
- ethereal
- gossamer
- insubstantial
- undersized
- gossamery
- undersize
- underweight
- ultralight
- ultralightweight
2
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
- slow
- tiring
- boring
- stupid
- weary
- dusty
- dull
- old
- wearying
- dry
- ponderous
- annoying
- tedious
- monotonous
- leaden
- stodgy
- pedestrian
- irritating
- tiresome
- tame
- uninteresting
- drudging
- drab
- dreary
- wearisome
- humdrum
- arid
- stuffy
- monochromatic
- numbing
- flat
- colorless
- exhausting
- pallid
- stale
- mind-numbing
- gray
- sterile
- jading
- ho-hum
- soggy
- dullish
- jejune
- draining
- cumbersome
- irksome
- blah
- unexciting
- unimaginative
- prosy
- blank
- prosaic
- barren
- fatiguing
- unspectacular
- spiritless
- bothersome
- grey
- uninspiring
- uneventful
- unrewarding
- earthbound
- debilitating
- suspenseless
- unsensational
- inanimate
- wearing
- discouraging
- ordinary
- pedantic
- common
- enervating
- aseptic
- undramatic
- lumbering
- plodding
- tepid
- unnewsworthy
- longsome
- pokey
- pleasureless
- unsurprising
- vapid
- commonplace
- unexceptional
- enfeebling
- demoralizing
- dispiriting
- disheartening
- palling
- poky
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- interesting
- involving
- gripping
- intriguing
- absorbing
- surprising
- spectacular
- awesome
- engaging
- wonderful
- amazing
- riveting
- engrossing
- marvellous
- marvelous
- exciting
- wondrous
- sensational
- stirring
- exhilarating
- astounding
- astonishing
- fabulous
- moving
- thrilling
- attractive
- rousing
- breathtaking
- poignant
- amusing
- stimulating
- alluring
- energizing
- electrifying
- inspiring
- touching
- entertaining
- galvanizing
- beguiling
- diverting
- invigorating
- charming
- fascinating
- attracting
- enthralling
- rip-roaring
- provocative
- enchanting
- animating
- enlivening
- bewitching
- hair-raising
- entrancing
- eye-opening
- suspenseful
- mesmerizing
- captivating
- tantalizing
- spellbinding
- arresting
3
as in greasy
containing much seasoning, fat, or sugar avoid heavy desserts like cheesecake and pecan pie Synonyms & Similar Words
- greasy
- fatty
- spicy
- rich
- oily
- sweet
- buttery
- fattening
- cloying
- fat
- caloric
- filling
- calorific
- creamy
- sugary
- oversweet
- overfilling
- satiating
- sating
- sauced
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- light
- lite
- simple
- plain
- natural
- diet
- unseasoned
- slimming
- nonfat
- nonfattening
4
as in hazy
covered over by clouds heavy skies threatening rain Synonyms & Similar Words
- hazy
- darkened
- clouded
- misty
- gray
- murky
- lowering
- dark
- dull
- overcast
- grey
- louring
- bleak
- cloudy
- hazed
- black
- overclouded
- beclouded
- blackened
- obscured
- obscure
- overshadowed
- dusky
- darksome
- dim
- dulled
- dimmed
- somber
- gloomy
- sullen
- dreary
- dismal
- cheerless
- sombre
- befogged
- desolate
- bedimmed
- glum
- sepulchral
- funereal
- drear
- sunless
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- clear
- cloudless
- sunny
- shiny
- brilliant
- dazzling
- sunlit
- sunshiny
- lighted
- lit
- radiant
- illuminated
- lightened
- brightened
- illumined
5
as in harsh
difficult to endure they paid a heavy price for their mistakes Synonyms & Similar Words
- harsh
- tough
- oppressive
- severe
- searing
- brutal
- hard
- rough
- burdensome
- onerous
- grim
- cruel
- trying
- stiff
- painful
- rugged
- murderous
- bitter
- grievous
- inhuman
- excruciating
- bleak
- uncomfortable
- unpleasant
- unbearable
- bad
- strict
- hardhanded
- overwhelming
- rigorous
- crushing
- stringent
- spartan
- forbidding
- austere
- inhospitable
- grinding
- inclement
- biting
- intolerable
- comfortless
- intemperate
- agonizing
- wearing
- unfriendly
- insufferable
- tortuous
- hostile
- disagreeable
- unendurable
- wild
- wretched
- harrowing
- discomforting
- heartbreaking
- insupportable
- heartrending
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- light
- soft
- easy
- comfortable
- luxurious
- pleasant
- friendly
- cozy
- agreeable
- mild
- moderate
- gentle
- peaceful
- genial
- hospitable
- relaxing
- restful
- tolerable
- snug
- bearable
- calm
- painless
- temperate
- endurable
- balmy
- reposeful
- clement
6
as in intensive
extreme in degree, power, or effect heavy rains the company is forecasting heavy losses this year Synonyms & Similar Words
- intensive
- intense
- deep
- fierce
- terrible
- ferocious
- violent
- furious
- explosive
- vicious
- profound
- dreadful
- acute
- heavy-duty
- hard
- fearful
- ghastly
- fearsome
- vehement
- exquisite
- excruciating
- blistering
- harsh
- almighty
- frightful
- intensified
- heightened
- hellacious
- keen
- severe
- concentrated
- aggravated
- enhanced
- accentuated
- stressed
- deepened
- emphasized
- exhaustive
- thorough
- rigorous
- magnified
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- light
- soft
- moderate
- weak
- feeble
- superficial
- shallow
- eased
- decreased
- qualified
- subdued
- reduced
- moderated
- toned (down)
- diminished
- lightened
- lessened
- alleviated
- abated
7
as in serious
having a matter of importance as its topic got into a heavy discussion about death and the afterlife Synonyms & Similar Words
- serious
- big
- important
- major
- weighty
- substantial
- meaningful
- solid
- significant
- grave
- material
- portentous
- momentous
- consequential
- eventful
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- light
- small
- little
- slight
- trivial
- minor
- lite
- silly
- insignificant
- unserious
- frivolous
- unimportant
- Mickey Mouse
8
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort until we find our groove, it's going to be heavy sledding on this project Synonyms & Similar Words
- difficult
- tough
- challenging
- rigorous
- hard
- formidable
- demanding
- complicated
- severe
- rough
- sweaty
- rugged
- strenuous
- stiff
- tall
- testing
- laborious
- effortful
- arduous
- painful
- murderous
- backbreaking
- intricate
- uphill
- serious
- complex
- herculean
- grueling
- exhausting
- exacting
- killer
- toilsome
- hellacious
- problematic
- annoying
- oppressive
- gruelling
- tight
- brutal
- bruising
- involved
- grim
- burdensome
- onerous
- stubborn
- taxing
- moiling
- tricky
- pick-and-shovel
- hairy
- opaque
- elusive
- stressful
- abstract
- troublesome
- thorny
- strict
- insoluble
- problematical
- irksome
- abstruse
- trying
- spiny
- knotty
- labored
- stringent
- recondite
- bothersome
- vexatious
- cruel
- Augean
- ticklish
- grievous
- distressing
- inhuman
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- light
- soft
- easy
- simple
- cheap
- mindless
- clear
- effortless
- undemanding
- facile
- gentle
- smooth
- elementary
- uncomplicated
- doable
- achievable
- soothing
- manageable
- comforting
- relaxed
- friendly
- painless
- accessible
- user-friendly
- idiotproof
9
as in powerful
having great power or influence she's not among the handful of heavy critics who can make or break a Broadway show Synonyms & Similar Words
- powerful
- significant
- influential
- strong
- important
- mighty
- potent
- prominent
- heavy-duty
- senior
- puissant
- top
- great
- outstanding
- efficient
- effective
- robust
- capable
- dominant
- distinguished
- famous
- vigorous
- notorious
- notable
- able
- celebrated
- competent
- renowned
- high-level
- dynamic
- tyrannical
- forceful
- authoritarian
- noteworthy
- prestigious
- energetic
- despotic
- autocratic
- eminent
- illustrious
- dictatorial
- famed
- autocratical
- magisterial
- tyrannic
- noble
- high-powered
- preeminent
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- little
- weak
- insignificant
- unimportant
- feeble
- helpless
- flimsy
- impotent
- powerless
- frail
- infirm
- obscure
- unknown
- ineffective
- anonymous
- incapable
- unskilled
- unfit
- incompetent
- nameless
- unqualified
- inept
- uncelebrated
- unskillful
- inexpert
10
as in pregnant
containing unborn young within the body the heifer was heavy with young and soon would be birthing Synonyms & Similar Words
- pregnant
- gone
- big
- caught
- expecting
- with young
- expectant
- with child
- gravid
- quick
- enceinte
- prenatal
- brooding
- gestational
- impregnated
- childbearing
- parturient
- conceiving
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- barren
- infertile
- nonpregnant
- delivered
- miscarrying
- aborting
heavy
2 of 2noun
1
as in brute
a mean, evil, or unprincipled person he played the heavy in film after film until being cast against type as the romantic lead in a comedy Synonyms & Similar Words
- brute
- villain
- monster
- savage
- criminal
- beast
- devil
- nazi
- offender
- wretch
- rogue
- bandit
- thug
- assassin
- scapegrace
- gangster
- caitiff
- miscreant
- rascal
- reprobate
- fiend
- hound
- crook
- scoundrel
- knave
- scamp
- scalawag
- baddie
- baddy
- no-good
- evildoer
- tough
- meany
- varlet
- loser
- rough
- snake
- perpetrator
- meanie
- culprit
- rapscallion
- trespasser
- heel
- scallywag
- con
- outlaw
- perp
- felon
- rowdy
- viper
- transgressor
- serpent
- sinner
- blackguard
- cutthroat
- malefactor
- cad
- desperado
- villainess
- wrongdoer
- convict
- ruffian
- lawbreaker
- goon
- racketeer
- hoodlum
- bravo
- hooligan
- stinker
- jailbird
- trash
- lowlife
- gunman
- ne'er-do-well
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- innocent
- angel
- hero
- saint
2
as in big
one of high position or importance within a group in the field of secondary education, she definitely ranks as one of the heavies Synonyms & Similar Words
- big
- heavyweight
- heavy hitter
- lion
- magnate
- big gun
- queen
- king
- big boy
- big shot
- big wheel
- tycoon
- major leaguer
- biggie
- big leaguer
- wheel
- baron
- high-muckety-muck
- prince
- bigwig
- muck-a-muck
- big cheese
- kingfish
- nob
- fat cat
- nabob
- mucky-muck
- bigfoot
- kingpin
- big-timer
- nibs
- nawab
- kahuna
- poo-bah
- high-muck-a-muck
- princess
- honcho
- muckety-muck
- czar
- pooh-bah
- mogul
- tsar
- tzar
- VIP
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- lightweight
- nothing
- nobody
- zero
- shrimp
- subordinate
- nonentity
- twerp
- inferior
- whippersnapper
- underling
- zilch
- mediocrity
- obscurity
Synonym Chooser
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
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
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
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