hefty

adjective

ˈhef-tē How to pronounce hefty (audio)
heftier; heftiest
Synonyms of hefty
1
: quite heavy
a hefty book
2
a
: marked by bigness, bulk, and usually strength
a hefty football player
b
: powerful, mighty
gave the door a hefty shove
c
: impressively large : substantial
hefty portions
a hefty price
heftily
ˈhef-tə-lē How to pronounce hefty (audio)
adverb
heftiness
ˈhef-tē-nəs How to pronounce hefty (audio)
noun

Synonyms of hefty

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Examples of hefty in a Sentence

He was a tall, hefty man. Her boss gave her a hefty raise. a hefty dose of irony He gave the door a hefty kick.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Almost every state has its own official state fair during the summer or fall, but these eight stand out with their funky foods, hefty produce and adorable animal exhibits. — Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 4 Aug. 2026 Just hours before the Mahle trade, the Rays gave up a relatively hefty package for another starting pitcher rental, Freddy Peralta. — Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026 Tesla built 93,579 cars in China that month, a hefty 38 percent increase compared to June 2025, according to CPCA’s data. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 4 Aug. 2026 The Cubs paid a hefty price to acquire Holmes and Taylor in essentially a move for rentals. — Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hefty

Word History

First Known Use

1863, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hefty was in 1863

Phrases Containing hefty

Rhymes for hefty

See All Rhymes for hefty

Browse Nearby Words

heftiness
hefty
hefty price tag
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Cite this Entry

“Hefty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hefty. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on hefty

Nglish: Translation of hefty for Spanish Speakers

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