heftier; heftiest
1
: quite heavy
2
a
: marked by bigness, bulk, and usually strength
a hefty football player
c
: impressively large : substantial
hefty portions
heftily adverb
heftiness noun

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.
The audit process for the 2021 election, which Adams won, remains ongoing, but the CFB recently warned the mayor could face hefty fines for bookkeeping irregularities in that cycle. Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 28 Feb. 2025 Employers may face hefty fines for employing workers without authorization, but in other cases, workers are placed in removal proceedings while employers face minimal or no fines as investigations drag out. Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 28 Feb. 2025 Littell’s performance last year — an 8-10, 3.63 record in a team-leading 29 starts and 156 1/3 innings — and his status as an arbitration-eligible player earned him a hefty salary for this season: $5.72 million. Marc Topkin, Orlando Sentinel, 28 Feb. 2025 In addition, these funds are generally reserved for accredited investors and come with hefty fees, which may limit accessibility for some. Sharon Olson, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hefty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hefty. Accessed 6 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

hefty

adjective
heftier; heftiest
heftily adverb
heftiness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on hefty

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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