top-heavy

adjective

ˈtäp-ˌhe-vē How to pronounce top-heavy (audio)
Synonyms of top-heavynext
1
: having the top part too heavy for the lower part
2
: having too high a proportion of administrators
a top-heavy bureaucracy
3
: oversupplied with one element at the expense of others : lacking balance
a novel top-heavy with description

Examples of top-heavy in a Sentence

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.
All four are premier players on this top-heavy team — a quartet the Astros need to win games. — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 29 June 2026 Rain, wind, and top-heavy blooms are no match for some of Amazon’s cheapest gardening solutions. — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 June 2026 Another top-heavy group led by Germany, a four-time World Cup champion. — Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026 If injuries continue to plague him in Minnesota, the top-heavy nature of the Wolves' roster could backfire on them. — Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for top-heavy

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1531, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of top-heavy was circa 1531

Rhymes for top-heavy

See All Rhymes for top-heavy

Browse Nearby Words

top-heaviness
top-heavy
Tophet
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Top-heavy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/top-heavy. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

top-heavy

adjective
ˈtäp-ˌhev-ē
: having the top part too heavy for the lower part

More from Merriam-Webster on top-heavy

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for top-heavy

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