heftiness

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "heftiness" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the quality of being heavy or substantial, often in a physical or metaphorical sense. Example: "The heftiness of the book made it difficult to carry around all day."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

It took no time to discover that the Jones's strength is their devotion to freshness of ingredients and heftiness of flavours.

Independent

The passion of Shostakovich's 1946 meditation on Word War II is magnified not only by the heftiness of the string textures but also by the broadened palette afforded by the winds and harp.

The New York Times - Arts

Don't let the heftiness of the book scare you.

The New York Times

There is a scoop of finely acidulated and diced onions and green herbs to cut through the heftiness of the meat.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

What makes him so good is that he reminds us that heftiness is not incompatible with haute couture.

The Guardian

There was no pretending that the modern concert grand was a harpsichord, or even anything like one: in both works, Mr. Rangell used the piano's full range of color and dynamics, and parts of the Bach had a Busoni-like heftiness as well as an unflagging drive.

The New York Times - Arts

To that end Mr. Brendel used the resources of the modern Steinway, giving both works a heftiness, power and dynamic breadth different in quality -- if not necessarily in spirit -- from what either composer could have coaxed from a late-18th-century piano.

The New York Times - Arts

There are frequent shifts of musical accent: sometimes the writing evokes the heftiness of Brahms or Dvorak (although the harmonic language is slightly more prickly than theirs), sometimes a more Impressionistic style.

The New York Times - Arts

The strings, from the opening bars, had a heftiness that veered more in the direction of Schubert than Mozart yet had an irresistible warmth and silkiness.

The New York Times - Arts

The Boston players held up their end of the transaction: the brass and winds played brilliantly, particularly in the finale, the strings brought a wonderful heftiness to the work's most densely scored sections, and the percussionists provided the requisite range of effects, from sparkle to pounding.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "heftiness" when you want to emphasize the substantial or weighty quality of something, whether it's a physical object or an abstract concept. It's particularly effective when you want to convey a sense of importance or impact.

Common error

Avoid using "heftiness" when simple weight is the more accurate descriptor. "Heftiness" implies a significant or imposing weight, not just any weight. For example, don't describe a feather as having "heftiness".

Linguistic Context

The word "heftiness" functions primarily as a noun, denoting the state or quality of being hefty. As Ludwig AI confirms, it describes the degree to which something possesses weight, mass, or substantiality. The examples from Ludwig illustrate its use in describing both physical attributes (e.g., the "heftiness" of a book) and abstract qualities (e.g., the "heftiness" of flavors).

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "heftiness" is a noun that describes the quality of being hefty, implying a significant weight or substantiality. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. While not an extremely common word, it appears in reputable sources like The New York Times and The Guardian, making it suitable for neutral to slightly formal contexts. It is especially useful when you want to emphasize the considerable nature or impact of something. As shown in the examples, it can describe both physical attributes, like the weight of a book, and more abstract qualities, like the intensity of flavors or musical textures. Remember to avoid using "heftiness" when simple weight is more appropriate, as it implies a notable degree of heaviness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

substantiality

Emphasizes the solid and considerable nature of something, highlighting its significant presence or impact.

weightiness

Directly refers to the heaviness of something, either in a literal or figurative sense, such as the importance of a decision.

massiveness

Highlights the large size and scale of something, emphasizing its imposing presence.

ponderosity

Suggests a heavy and often unwieldy quality, implying a burden or difficulty due to weight.

bulkiness

Focuses on the large size and volume of something, often implying that it is difficult to handle or store.

solidity

Emphasizes the firmness and stability of something, highlighting its resistance to deformation or collapse.

thickness

Refers to the dimension of something from one surface to another, implying a substantial amount of material.

density

Highlights the amount of mass per unit volume, indicating a high concentration of matter.

corpulence

Specifically refers to the state of being fat or obese, emphasizing excessive body weight.

robustness

Highlights the strength and resilience of something, implying its ability to withstand stress or damage.

FAQs

How do I use "heftiness" in a sentence?

You can use "heftiness" to describe the quality of being heavy or substantial, either physically or metaphorically. For example: "The "heftiness of the book" made it difficult to carry." or "The "heftiness of the flavor" was surprising."

What words can I use instead of "heftiness"?

You can use alternatives like "substantiality", "weightiness", or "massiveness" depending on the specific context.

Is "heftiness" a formal or informal word?

"Heftiness" is generally considered a neutral word, suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, more formal alternatives like "substantiality" might be preferred in very formal writing.

What's the difference between "heaviness" and "heftiness"?

While both refer to weight, "heaviness" is a more general term. "Heftiness" implies a significant or imposing weight, often suggesting a sense of importance or impact. Therefore, heftiness is the quality of being hefty.