hefty

11 synonyms and 2 antonyms for hefty, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Adjective — Large, heavy, and solidly built; substantial in size or weight.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

powerful healthy

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

sizable respectable tidy muscular

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

sizeable goodish sinewy brawny goodly

Synonyms by Meaning

1. adjective

Large, heavy, and solidly built; substantial in size or weight.

“He carried a hefty stack of textbooks under one arm.”

sizeable goodish sinewy sizable brawny goodly respectable tidy powerful muscular healthy

Opposites

small

2. adjective

Larger than usual in amount, especially of a cost, fine, or sum of money.

“They were slapped with a hefty fine for the late filing.”

Opposites

modest

How to use hefty

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

hefty price hefty fine hefty sum hefty build

Etymology

From "heft" (weight, heaviness) plus the adjective ending "-y", dating to the 1800s.

Full origin of hefty →

Frequently asked questions

What does “hefty” mean?

The word “hefty” means large, heavy, and solidly built; substantial in size or weight. In plain terms, big and heavy — used for objects, people, or (informally) large amounts of money.

How do you pronounce “hefty”?

“Hefty” is pronounced HEHF-tee (/ˈhɛfti/ in IPA).

How do you use “hefty” in a sentence?

Here is “hefty” used in a sentence: “He carried a hefty stack of textbooks under one arm.”

What part of speech is “hefty”?

“Hefty” is an adjective.

Where does the word “hefty” come from?

The word “hefty” dates back to around 1800. From "heft" (weight, heaviness) plus the adjective ending "-y", dating to the 1800s.

Is “hefty” a common word?

“Hefty” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “hefty” have?

“Hefty” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: large, heavy, and solidly built; substantial in size or weight.

People also searched

small powerful healthy modest respectable muscular tidy sizable sizeable brawny goodly sinewy

Nearby words

← Back to the full definition of hefty