weight 1 of 2

noun

ˈwāt How to pronounce weight (audio)
Definition of weightnext
1
as in heaviness
the amount that something weighs because of a back condition, I'm not allowed to lift anything with a weight of over 10 pounds

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in importance
the quality or state of being important a matter of little weight that is a preoccupation solely of the news media

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in burden
a mass or quantity of something taken up and carried, conveyed, or transported those books are a heavy weight to have to carry around all day

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4
as in emphasis
a special notice or importance given to something put extra weight on the matter by putting it at the top of the agenda

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in body
the main or greater part of something as distinguished from its subordinate parts the weight of the evidence supports my conclusion

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6
as in influence
the power to direct the thinking or behavior of others usually indirectly as a critic he has great weight in the theater world

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in obesity
the condition of having an excess of body fat finally decided to do something about his weight and began a rigorous program of diet and exercise

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

weight

2 of 2

verb

as in to load
to place a weight or burden on weighted the car with a ton of furniture and then headed off for college

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun weight differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of weight are consequence, importance, moment, and significance. While all these words mean "a quality or aspect having great worth or significance," weight implies a judgment of the immediate relative importance of something.

the argument carried no weight with the judge

When might consequence be a better fit than weight?

The synonyms consequence and weight are sometimes interchangeable, but consequence generally implies importance because of probable or possible effects.

the style you choose is of little consequence

When is it sensible to use importance instead of weight?

In some situations, the words importance and weight are roughly equivalent. However, importance implies a value judgment of the superior worth or influence of something or someone.

a region with no cities of importance

Where would moment be a reasonable alternative to weight?

While in some cases nearly identical to weight, moment implies conspicuous or self-evident consequence.

a decision of great moment

When can significance be used instead of weight?

The words significance and weight can be used in similar contexts, but significance implies a quality or character that should mark a thing as important but that is not self-evident and may or may not be recognized.

the treaty's significance

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 weight
Noun
Some GLP-1s, and dual GLP-1s/GIPs, are FDA-approved for Type 2 diabetes, including the brand names Ozempic, Mounjaro and Trulicity, while others are FDA-approved for weight loss management including Wegovy, Zepbound and Saxenda. — Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026 Wall Street sees new treatments as an untapped goldmine, full of consumers who are willing to pay out-of-pocket for better options, reminiscent of the boom in GLP-1 weight-loss drugs. — Avalon Pernell, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026
Verb
The data was then weighted and scored to determine the overall ranking and is current through June 15, 2026. — Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 26 Aug. 2026 Ballots cast by fans, players and coaches are weighted equally to determine the selections of the 88 players on offense, defense and special teams across both conferences. — Jonathan Jones, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for weight
Recent Examples of Synonyms for weight
  1. heaviness
  2. importance
  3. burden
  4. emphasis
  5. body
  6. influence
  7. obesity
  8. load
Noun
  • The Dessens of every dimension — and all the other major characters, for that matter — are not the most colorful bunch, and the sober tone of the early episodes, such as the slate-gray Chicago winters, could have an unwelcome heaviness.
    — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
  • In addition to chronic pain, heaviness and bruising, Su says patients can also experience swelling, decreased mobility and increasing difficulty with everyday activities as the disease progresses.
    — Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of heaviness
Noun
  • Thanks to my friends’ beloved babies and the perks of my job—which have included putting together a list of essential children’s books—I’ve been thinking a lot about the importance of reading with children.
    — Emma Sarappo, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Fame was of prime importance to the ancient Greeks, and Wilson is the rare classical scholar who has firsthand knowledge of a public life.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of importance
Noun
  • Federal guidance for public schools expressly recognizes that a teacher may excuse a student from class to relieve a significant burden on religious exercise, giving Muslim students who need to pray during Ramadan as one example.
    — Asma Uddin, The Conversation, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Ukraine has also tried to make Russian civilians feel the burden of war by hammering major online retailers and oil facilities.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of burden
Noun
  • The investment comes as militaries are placing greater emphasis on electronic warfare, airborne sensing and the ability to operate in environments where communications and radar systems may be contested.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026
  • That was an emphasis in the spring because IU’s first team under DeVries struggled on the glass, ranking 279th in defensive rebounding rate, and finished 14th in defensive efficiency in conference games in the Big Ten.
    — CJ Moore, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of emphasis
Noun
  • The eight-member body oversees McCuskey’s work and consists of four Democratic and four Republican legislators, including Keicher.
    — Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Rather than just a reproductive issue, endometriosis is a whole-body condition, affecting everything from emotional regulation to hormone production and gut health.
    — Bella Webb, Vogue, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of body
Noun
  • Still, oil's influence extends far beyond the professional traders and companies that dominate its market.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026
  • When the internet is rife with influence and inspiration, who gets credit when someone is compelled to buy something online?
    — Tom Matsuda, Vogue, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of influence
Noun
  • Studies have shown that too much milk can lead to obesity and even cardiovascular disease and can have adverse effects on overall mortality.
    — Fatma Tanis, NPR, 27 Aug. 2026
  • In multiple trials involving adults with obesity and moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea, a GLP-1 substantially reduced the times breathing slowed or stopped during sleep.
    — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of obesity
Verb
  • The crude that Tehran is able to load on tankers probably doesn't make it past the blockade, Smith added.
    — Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • In the third inning, the Royals left the bases loaded as Jac Caglianone and Salvador Perez struck out in a clutch situation.
    — Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of load

Phrases Containing weight

Browse Nearby Words

weighs (upon)
weight
weight (down)
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Cite this Entry

“Weight.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/weight. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on weight

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about weight

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