unwieldy
adjective
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The Difference Between Wieldy and Unwieldy
The verb to wield means "to handle or exert something effectively." A carpenter might wield a hammer with impressive dexterity, for example, or a talented orator might wield influence over an audience of listeners. Something that is "wieldy" is capable of being wielded easily, and while that adjective may not be particularly common, its antonym "unwieldy" finds ample use to describe anything that is awkward to handle, move, or manage. "Wield" and its relatives all derive via Middle English from Old English wieldan, meaning "to control."
Synonyms
Examples of unwieldy in a Sentence
Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 22 Oct. 2024
In less capable hands, mapping a story that becomes more involved, spans geographies and timespans, and takes in ever more characters and arcs could make for an unwieldy production, and an overwhelming experience for the viewer.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2024
Melisa Rollins Finally Won the Race That Shaped Her Pro Cycling Career
Organizers have cited this unwieldy event format in the past as a key reason not to include women—there simply wasn’t enough time to get all the competitors down safely, in a good weather window.
—Jayme Moye, Outside Online, 9 Oct. 2024
True, the algorithm’s output—a full description of how the atoms in a spin system are oriented in thermal equilibrium—is too unwieldy to store on a classical machine.
—Ben Brubaker, WIRED, 22 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for unwieldy 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unwieldy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near unwieldy
Cite this Entry
“Unwieldy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unwieldy. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.
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unwieldy
adjective
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