heavy

Weighing a lot and often difficult to lift or move.

• This bag is heavy.
• We carried the heavy boxes upstairs.
• How heavy is your suitcase?

Similar words: weighty

Opposites: light

Common phrases: heavy bag, heavy box, heavy furniture

Difficult to deal with because it causes great trouble, worry, or effort.

• The debt is a heavy burden.
• She carries a heavy responsibility at work.
• The family faced heavy expenses after the accident.

Similar words: burdensome, oppressive, onerous

Opposites: light

Common phrases: heavy burden, heavy responsibility, heavy expenses

Serious or sad, often making people think deeply or feel uncomfortable.

• That is a heavy subject.
• The film felt too heavy for a relaxing evening.
• Their conversation grew heavy as they discussed the war.

Similar words: serious, somber

Opposites: lighthearted

Common phrases: heavy subject, heavy mood, heavy discussion

Having a large body with more weight than usual.

• He is tall and heavy.
• She was rather heavy as a child.
• The heavy man struggled to fit into the narrow seat.

Similar words: overweight, heavyset, stout

Opposites: thin

Common phrases: heavy build, heavy man, rather heavy

With great weight or pressure, or in a way that feels sad and difficult.

• The loss lay heavy on his heart.
• Time hung heavy in the silent house.
• Her guilt weighed heavy on her conscience.

How to use it: lie heavy on someone/something (The loss lay heavy on her heart.)

Similar words: heavily, weightily

Opposites: lightly

Common phrases: hang heavy, lie heavy, heavy with sorrow

A bad or threatening character, especially in a film or play.

• He plays the heavy in this film.
• The director cast her as the heavy.
• Several famous heavies appeared in the crime drama.

Similar words: villain, bad guy

Opposites: hero

Common phrases: play the heavy, movie heavy, cast as heavy

A large, strong person hired to guard someone or control people, sometimes through threats.

• A heavy stood by the door.
• The club hired two heavies to stop fights.
• His heavies followed him into the crowded bar.

Similar words: bouncer, bodyguard, enforcer

Common phrases: hired heavy, club heavy, send a heavy

To make something weigh more.

• The wet cloth heavied up the bag.
• They heavied the load with extra supplies.
• Adding stones will heavy up the base.

How to use it: heavy something up (The extra tools heavied up his pack.)

Similar words: weigh down, weight

Opposites: lighten

Common phrases: heavy something up, heavy up something