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

\/\/ the argument carried no weight<\/em> with the judge<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When might 'consequence' be a better fit than 'weight'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

The synonyms consequence<\/em><\/a> and weight<\/em> are sometimes interchangeable, but consequence<\/em> generally implies importance because of probable or possible effects.<\/p>

\/\/ the style you choose is of little consequence<\/em><\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When is it sensible to use 'importance' instead of 'weight'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

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

\/\/ a region with no cities of importance<\/em><\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Where would 'moment' be a reasonable alternative to 'weight'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

While in some cases nearly identical to weight<\/em>, moment<\/em><\/a> implies conspicuous or self-evident consequence.<\/p>

\/\/ a decision of great moment<\/em><\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When can 'significance' be used instead of 'weight'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

The words significance<\/em><\/a> and weight<\/em> can be used in similar contexts, but significance<\/em> 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.<\/p>

\/\/ the treaty's significance<\/em><\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How does the noun 'weight' differ from other similar words?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

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

\/\/ the argument carried no weight<\/em> with the judge<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When might 'consequence' be a better fit than 'weight'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

The synonyms consequence<\/em><\/a> and weight<\/em> are sometimes interchangeable, but consequence<\/em> generally implies importance because of probable or possible effects.<\/p>

\/\/ the style you choose is of little consequence<\/em><\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When is it sensible to use 'importance' instead of 'weight'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

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

\/\/ a region with no cities of importance<\/em><\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Where would 'moment' be a reasonable alternative to 'weight'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

While in some cases nearly identical to weight<\/em>, moment<\/em><\/a> implies conspicuous or self-evident consequence.<\/p>

\/\/ a decision of great moment<\/em><\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When can 'significance' be used instead of 'weight'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

The words significance<\/em><\/a> and weight<\/em> can be used in similar contexts, but significance<\/em> 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.<\/p>

\/\/ the treaty's significance<\/em><\/p>" } } ] }

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

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
This is especially critical during major life transitions, such as the postpartum period, weight shifts, or perimenopause, when breast density and shape change rapidly. —Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026 The weight of tradition and the pressure of his own desires bear down on him equally, and his choice will have lasting consequences. —Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
Verb
There are times when the film can feel weighted down by its clever framework. —Stephen Saito, Variety, 14 Mar. 2026 More weight is given to wins against better teams and weighted even more if the game is on the road. —Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 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
  • For those whose skin leans on the drier side, year-round, hydration flooding with essences, toners, and ampoules maximizes hydration without adding unwanted heaviness.
    — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 19 Mar. 2026
  • Shattered layers add texture while minimizing weight and heaviness, giving thicker hair types a wispier, fringier effect.
    — Audrey Noble, InStyle, 10 Mar. 2026
Definition of heaviness
Noun
  • Heat stroke is a serious emergency and time is of the utmost importance when treating it.
    — Brad Stulberg, Outside, 25 Mar. 2026
  • The more complex the AI workload is, the more RAM is required to host and run the AI model, which makes memory capacity of paramount importance.
    — Michael Justin Allen Sexton, PC Magazine, 25 Mar. 2026
Definition of importance
Noun
  • The highest percentage of those with financial burdens was families earning less than $50,000 per year.
    — Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 22 Mar. 2026
  • Critics now argue those obligations have grown into a major public burden as the project has faced delays and mounting costs.
    — Eric Mack, FOXNews.com, 22 Mar. 2026
Definition of burden
Noun
  • The emphasis, however, is heavily on modern times.
    — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2026
  • Throw it on over your shoulders or belted at the waist for an unexpected accent that puts all the emphasis on the casual, but still remains effortlessly stylish.
    — India Roby, Glamour, 21 Mar. 2026
Definition of emphasis
Noun
  • This successful integration proved that the AI could reliably translate internal tendon twitches into precise digital hand gestures across different body types.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 25 Mar. 2026
  • His body was found in a traffic median the following afternoon after it was revealed by melting snow.
    — Alan Gionet, CBS News, 25 Mar. 2026
Definition of body
Noun
  • Critical minerals, electricity grids, nuclear technology, and clean-energy supply chains are, however, increasingly shaping geopolitical influence.
    — Derek Chollet, semafor.com, 25 Mar. 2026
  • The second section begins, not too long after, with the narrator having just participated in a memorial-slash-symposium in Madrid honoring Thomas’s life and influence.
    — Hannah Gold, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
Definition of influence
Noun
  • Researchers compared these timing groups with health data including rates of high blood pressure, obesity, high cholesterol, atrial fibrillation, coronary artery disease, and other cardiovascular health problems.
    — Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 20 Mar. 2026
  • The study did not take into account other potential influencing factors including people’s diets, medications, kidney function, rates of obesity or the amount of time people spend indoors, where CO2 levels tend to be higher.
    — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 19 Mar. 2026
Definition of obesity
Verb
  • Nick Castellanos flied out to center with the bases loaded to end the eighth in his Padres debut.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
  • With the song in expert hands, Dave Meyer, the commercial’s director, asked to add other off-kilter elements, including a plotline about Nickelback and Megan stealing new Cheetos from a vault and loading them on to a giant truck that would also serve as their escape vehicle.
    — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 26 Mar. 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 27 Mar. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on weight

Nglish: Translation of weight for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about weight

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