Definition of cumbersome
1 dialect : burdensome, troublesome
2 : unwieldy because of heaviness and bulk a cumbersome package
3 : slow-moving : ponderous cumbersome administrative procedures
cumbersomely
adverbcumbersomeness
nounFrom the M-W Editors
Examples of cumbersome in a Sentence
Squad members, already decked out in cumbersome chemical suits, put on masks and rubber gloves. —Ray Wilkinson, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 1991
He got the approval of the higher-ups, but the course was scuttled by members of his own department, who devised all kinds of cumbersome, silly requirements and prerequisites. —Alice Munro, New Yorker, 20 Mar. 1989
He cut some segments of the 2" pine but discovered that … a cumbersome system of braces would be needed to hold the sides straight. —John Updike, Couples, 1968
The application process is cumbersome and time-consuming.
Her expanded job title is really cumbersome.
Recent Examples of cumbersome from the Web
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The chants at the D.C. march were clever and cumbersome, taking wonky and specific aim at what the protesters believe have been White House attempts to cover up its connections with the Russian government.
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Officials said the training wasn't cumbersome but paperwork for it was inhibiting outreach workers' ability to get naloxone in the hands of more residents.
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But in 2011, Gov. Rick Scott and the members of the Florida Cabinet decided to make the process more cumbersome and set a minimum five-year waiting period.
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The big-ticket items — construction equipment, stoves or refrigerators — are likely more financially cumbersome than an office printer.
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The staging here gets bogged down from time to time with cumbersome scene changes, though the musical underscoring in Ronnie Malley's original soundscape provides lively accompaniment.
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Farther from the presidential limelight, Blackstone’s competitors have managed to profit and grow in an environment that is widely regarded as cumbersome for infrastructure projects, which often require dozens of legal permits and years of waiting.
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Phoning in an order for a pepperoni pizza can be a cumbersome process for a deaf person, but new telecommunications services may deliver a better way.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cumbersome'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of cumbersome
see 1cumber
First Known Use: 1535
Synonym Discussion of cumbersome
CUMBERSOME Defined for English Language Learners
cumbersome
playDefinition of cumbersome for English Language Learners
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: hard to handle or manage because of size or weight
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: complicated and hard to do
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: long and difficult to read, say, etc.
CUMBERSOME Defined for Kids
cumbersome
playDefinition of cumbersome for Students
: hard to handle or manage because of size or weight
Learn More about cumbersome
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for cumbersome Spanish Central: Translation of cumbersome Nglish: Translation of cumbersome for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of cumbersome for Arabic speakers
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