Definitions

hefty

[hef-tee] / ˈhɛf ti /

ADJECTIVE

big, bulky

Synonyms

STRONGEST

colossal fat heavy large massive robust sizable substantial tremendous weighty

WEAK

ample awkward beefy brawny burly cumbersome extensive forceful hulking husky large-scale major muscular ponderous powerful strapping strong sturdy thumping unwieldy vigorous

Antonyms

STRONGEST

easy impoverished inconsequential insignificant light little miniature poor slight small thin tiny trivial unimportant unsubstantial

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The increase was driven by hefty gains in the construction, chemicals and metal products industries but the struggling auto sector suffered an almost five percent drop.

From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026

Canada maintains tariffs on American-made steel, aluminum and automobiles, in response to hefty U.S. duties on those foreign-made goods.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026

Since the fall, the administration has curbed plans to impose penalties on certain Chinese companies, levy hefty tariffs and investigate China-linked hackers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026

It also amounts to a hefty one-off tax burden.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 5, 2026

The silence was heavy while Rishi stood and left a hefty tip on the table so they wouldn’t have to.

From "When Dimple Met Rishi" by Sandhya Menon

Vocabulary lists containing hefty

The Omnivore's Dilemma

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

The Wednesday Wars

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

Hello, Universe

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!