weightier

Weightier is the comparative form of weighty. It describes something with greater weight in a physical sense or greater importance, seriousness, or consequence in a figurative sense.

In physical terms, weightier objects have more mass and are harder to lift. In figurative terms, weightier matters carry greater significance or gravity, as in a weightier issue or a weightier argument.

Etymology: weighty comes from weight, with the suffix -y, and weightier is formed by adding the comparative suffix -ier. The sense of greater importance often appears in formal or literary contexts; in everyday usage, heavier is more common for physical weight, while weightier signals emphasis.

Usage notes: Weightier tends to appear in formal writing, journalism, and literature, or in rhetorical contexts. It is less common in casual speech when referring to physical objects; for abstract ideas and situations, weightier conveys gravitas.

Examples: The trunk is weightier than the suitcases. The committee faced weightier concerns than routine budget questions. In literary prose, a weightier argument may sway readers more than a merely practical one.