Heavily vs. Strongly — What's the Difference?
By Urooj Arif & Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 8, 2024
Heavily implies something done to a great extent or degree, often suggesting weight or intensity. Strongly indicates firmness, strength, or conviction in an action or characteristic.
Difference Between Heavily and Strongly
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Heavily describes actions or conditions marked by significant weight or severity. For instance, "heavily taxed" means a high burden of taxes. Strongly, on the other hand, emphasizes a forceful manner or firm belief. For example, "strongly disagree" implies firm conviction in disagreement.
Heavily often implies an overwhelming or intense burden, as in "heavily laden." Conversely, strongly conveys conviction or power, as in "strongly support," indicating robust support.
Heavily also relates to the degree or extent of an action, like "raining heavily," suggesting intense precipitation. Strongly is used more figuratively, emphasizing qualities like clarity, agreement, or flavor.
When comparing impacts, "heavily" indicates substantial negative effects, such as "heavily affected," while "strongly" emphasizes assertiveness or influence, like "strongly persuaded."
Comparison Chart
Meaning
To a great degree; intensely
With conviction, firmness, or strength
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Usage Context
Burden, weight, quantity
Influence, belief, flavor
Emotional Connotation
Often negative or burdensome
Positive or assertive
Application
Weight, amount, precipitation
Opinion, feeling, taste
Example Usage
"Heavily taxed," "Raining heavily"
"Strongly believe," "Strongly worded"
Compare with Definitions
Heavily
Intensely or severely.
The area was heavily bombed during the war.
Strongly
With conviction or certainty.
She strongly believes in equal rights for all.
Heavily
In a significant amount.
The cake was heavily frosted with chocolate icing.
Strongly
With great emphasis.
The teacher strongly encouraged her students to study.
Heavily
To a great extent.
She leaned heavily on her walking stick.
Strongly
In a powerful or forceful manner.
The CEO spoke strongly in favor of the new policy.
Heavily
In a burdensome manner.
The company was heavily indebted after the merger.
Strongly
In a vigorous or healthy manner.
The economy grew strongly over the last quarter.
Heavily
In a difficult or strained way.
He breathed heavily after the intense workout.
Strongly
With a pronounced effect.
The medicine has a strongly bitter taste.
Heavily
With a great weight or burden
Heavily laden.
Strongly
Physically powerful; capable of exerting great physical force.
Heavily
Very slowly and with difficulty; laboriously
Walking heavily through the snow.
Strongly
Marked by great physical power
A strong blow to the head.
Heavily
Greatly or severely
Heavily in debt.
Strongly
In good or sound health; robust
A strong constitution.
A strong heart.
Heavily
In a heavy manner.
She fell heavily into bed.
He clomped heavily up the stairs in his boots.
The great clod trod heavily on my toes!
Strongly
Economically or financially sound or thriving
A strong economy.
Heavily
With a great weight.
Heavily burdened
Strongly
Having force of character, will, morality, or intelligence
A strong personality.
Heavily
To a considerable degree, to a great extent.
He relied heavily on the data collected by the others.
He drank heavily.
Heavily in debt;
Heavily tattooed
Heavily pregnant
Strongly
Having or showing ability or achievement in a specified field
Students who are strong in chemistry.
Heavily
In a manner designed for heavy duty.
Heavily armed soldiers;
Heavily armoured tanks;
Heavily reinforced walls
Strongly
Capable of the effective exercise of authority
A strong leader.
Heavily
So as to be thick or heavy.
Heavily built young men;
His heavily muscled arms
Strongly
Capable of withstanding force or wear; solid, tough, or firm
A strong building.
A strong fabric.
Heavily
In a laboured manner.
He breathed heavily
Strongly
Having great binding strength
A strong adhesive.
Heavily
In a heavy manner; with great weight; as, to bear heavily on a thing; to be heavily loaded.
Heavily interested in those schemes of emigration.
Strongly
Not easily captured or defeated
A strong flank.
A strong defense.
Heavily
As if burdened with a great weight; slowly and laboriously; with difficulty; hence, in a slow, difficult, or suffering manner; sorrowfully.
And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily.
Why looks your grace so heavily to-day?
Strongly
Not easily upset; resistant to harmful or unpleasant influences
Strong nerves.
A strong stomach.
Heavily
Greatly; intensely; as, heavily involved in a plot; heavily invested in real estate.
Strongly
Having force or rapidity of motion
A strong current.
Heavily
In large quantity; as, it rained heavily.
Strongly
Persuasive, effective, and cogent
A strong argument.
Heavily
To a considerable degree;
He relied heavily on others' data
Strongly
Forceful and pointed; emphatic
A strong statement.
Heavily
In a heavy-footed manner;
He walked heavily up the three flights to his room
Strongly
Forthright and explicit, often offensively so
Strong language.
Heavily
With great force;
She hit her arm heavily against the wall
Strongly
Extreme; drastic
Had to resort to strong measures.
Heavily
In a manner designed for heavy duty;
A heavily constructed car
Heavily armed
Strongly
Having force of conviction or feeling; uncompromising
Strong faith.
A strong supporter.
Heavily
Slowly as if burdened by much weight;
Time hung heavy on their hands
Strongly
Intense in degree or quality
A strong emotion.
Strong motivation.
Heavily
Indulging excessively;
He drank heavily
Strongly
Having an intense or offensive effect on the senses
Strong light.
Strong vinegar.
Strong cologne.
Strongly
Clear and loud
A strong voice.
Strongly
Readily noticeable; remarkable
A strong resemblance.
A strong contrast.
Strongly
Readily detected or received
A strong radio signal.
Strongly
Having a high concentration of an essential or active ingredient
Mixed a strong solution of bleach and water.
Strongly
Containing a considerable percentage of alcohol
Strong punch.
Strongly
Powerfully effective
A strong painkiller.
Strongly
Of or relating to a color having a high degree of saturation.
Strongly
Having a specified number of units or members
A military force 100,000 strong.
Strongly
Marked by steady or rising prices
A strong market.
Strongly
Of or relating to those verbs in Germanic languages that form their past tense by a change in stem vowel, and their past participles by a change in stem vowel and sometimes by adding the suffix -(e)n, as sing, sang, sung or tear, tore, torn.
Strongly
Of or relating to the inflection of nouns or adjectives in Germanic languages with endings that historically did not contain a suffix with an n.
Strongly
Stressed or accented in pronunciation or poetic meter. Used of a word or syllable.
Strongly
In a strong, powerful, or vigorous manner; forcefully
A salesperson who comes on too strong.
Strongly
In a strong or powerful manner.
In the third race, Renowned Blaze finished strongly to win, paying sixteen dollars.
Strongly
Very much.
His reply was strongly suggestive of a forthcoming challenge to the governor.
Strongly
In a strong manner; so as to be strong in action or in resistance; with strength; with great force; forcibly; powerfully; firmly; vehemently; as, a town strongly fortified; he objected strongly.
Strongly
With strength or in a strong manner;
Argues very strongly for his proposal
He was strongly opposed to the government
Strongly
In a powerful manner;
The federal government replaced the powerfully pro-settler Sir Godfrey Huggins with the even tougher and more determined ex-trade unionist
Common Curiosities
When would I use "heavily" instead of "strongly"?
Use "heavily" when describing burdensome effects, intensity, or severity, like "heavily affected."
Can "heavily" be used interchangeably with "strongly"?
No, "heavily" often implies a burden or weight, while "strongly" suggests firmness or power.
Can "strongly" refer to physical strength?
Yes, it can imply physical strength but is more often used metaphorically to indicate conviction or intensity.
Does "heavily" only apply to weight?
No, it can also describe severity or quantity, like "heavily armed."
Does "heavily" have an emotional connotation?
It often implies a negative burden or severity, such as "heavily criticized."
What does "strongly worded" mean?
It means written or spoken in a firm, forceful, or emphatic manner.
Is "heavily" used in everyday speech?
Yes, it's common in describing quantity or severity, like "heavily populated."
Is "strongly" used for taste descriptions?
Yes, "strongly" can describe intense flavors, like "strongly flavored."
Is "strongly" used in academic writing?
Yes, it can emphasize strong beliefs or assertions, like "strongly supports."
Are "heavily" and "strongly" synonymous?
No, they have different connotations; "heavily" relates to intensity, while "strongly" relates to conviction.
Is "strongly" always positive?
No, "strongly" can describe firm conviction regardless of the context, such as "strongly opposed."
Can "heavily" apply to weather conditions?
Yes, it's used for intense precipitation, like "heavily snowing."
Can "strongly" describe abstract ideas?
Yes, it can emphasize firm beliefs or support, like "strongly committed."
Can "strongly" be used to suggest subtlety?
No, it usually implies emphasis, clarity, or power.
Does "heavily" imply finality?
No, it refers to intensity or degree, like "heavily reliant."
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
