heavily implied

USAGE SUMMARY

"heavily implied" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to describe something that is indirectly suggested without being explicitly stated. For example, "The overall message of the author's work was heavily implied by his various metaphors".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

(They didn't actually specify this, but it was heavily implied).

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"Namouna" heavily implied both story and characters without telling us what on earth was going on.

The New York Times - Arts

It is heavily implied that Margot and her royal brothers have all been shagging each other.

The Guardian - Film

Over the years, I've heavily implied to lots of people that I've read a fair bit of GBS.

The Guardian - Opinion

Bye! 8.30pm GMT The singer from The Streets just heavily implied that he's definitely masturbated to photographs of Kylie Minogue.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

The murderers are supercilious Brandon John Dalll), and sensitive Philip (Farley Granger): friends and, it is heavily implied, lovers, too.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

Kylie, meanwhile, heavily implies that she'd definitely have sex with him.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

The film heavily implies that Mitch shared some culpability for his daughter's decline.

The Guardian - Film

The final shooting script heavily implies that Mrs. Reagan, in agitating for the resignation of Alexander M. Haig Jr., President Reagan's first secretary of state, went so far as to write his resignation letter.

The New York Times - Arts

Liberals, feminists and people of all races – especially people who had been active in the #BlackLivesMatter campaign - came down hard, while closet racists (of which there are apparently many), particularly right-wing Republicans and white supremacists chimed in apathetically, chastising the rest for making such a fuss and heavily implying that Bland must have been in the wrong.

Independent

Elsewhere in the documents the company switches between referring to FGA and GCHQ, heavily implying FGA is its internal code-name for GCHQ.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "heavily implied" when you want to suggest something without explicitly stating it, leaving room for interpretation or plausible deniability. This is especially useful in fiction writing or nuanced discussions where directness may be too blunt.

Common error

Avoid using "heavily implied" when the context makes the suggestion obvious or redundant. Overusing it can weaken your writing and make it seem like you're trying too hard to be subtle.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "heavily implied" functions as a descriptive modifier, where 'heavily' intensifies the degree to which something is suggested without being explicitly stated. Ludwig examples show it used to describe plot elements, character motivations, and unspoken assumptions.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Wiki

15%

Science

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "heavily implied" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that describes when something is strongly suggested without being directly stated. Analysis of examples from Ludwig indicates that the phrase is most commonly found in News & Media, Wiki, and Science contexts, carrying a neutral tone and a purpose of indirect communication. While being a valid expression, it is important to avoid redundancy when using "heavily implied", ensuring the context genuinely warrants the indirect suggestion. Alternatives such as "strongly suggested" or "clearly indicated" can offer nuanced variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

strongly suggested

Replaces "implied" with "suggested" emphasizing the strength of the suggestion.

clearly indicated

Substitutes "implied" with "indicated", highlighting the clarity of the indirect communication.

strongly hinted

Uses "hinted" instead of "implied", which softens the tone slightly while keeping the intensity.

virtually stated

Implies the message was so close to being directly stated that it was 'virtually' so.

thinly veiled

Suggests that the implication was not very subtle or well-concealed.

broadly hinted at

Replaces "heavily" with "broadly", indicating a wide range of hints pointing to the same conclusion.

strongly insinuated

Uses "insinuated" which often carries a negative connotation, implying something unpleasant.

powerfully alluded to

Emphasizes the indirectness with "alluded to", while "powerfully" maintains the strength.

practically asserted

Similar to 'virtually stated', suggests a near-declaration without direct assertion.

left little doubt

Shifts the focus to the audience's perception, indicating a strong degree of certainty created by the implication.

FAQs

How do you use "heavily implied" in a sentence?

Use "heavily implied" when you want to indicate that something is suggested strongly but not directly stated. For example, "The ending of the movie "heavily implied" a sequel".

What's the difference between "heavily implied" and "explicitly stated"?

"Heavily implied" means something is suggested indirectly but strongly, while "explicitly stated" means it's expressed directly and clearly. The first requires inference, while the second leaves no room for interpretation.

What can I say instead of "heavily implied"?

You can use alternatives like "strongly suggested", "clearly indicated", or "strongly hinted" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "heavily implied" or state something directly?

It depends on the context. "Heavily implied" can add nuance and intrigue, while direct statements are clearer and leave less room for misinterpretation. Choose the option that best suits your communication goals and audience.