unmanageable

adjective

un·​man·​age·​able ˌən-ˈma-ni-jə-bəl 

: not manageable : difficult or impossible to control or manage

unmanageable hair

an almost unmanageable amount of data

The prisoner became unmanageable.

an unmanageable temper

an unmanageable number of students for one teacher

an unmanageable amount of debt

unmanageability

ˌən-ˌma-ni-jə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

unmanageably

ˌən-ˈma-ni-jə-blē 

adverb

an unmanageably large amount of data

Synonyms

• uncontrollable
• stubborn
• intractable
• unruly
• ungovernable
• difficult
• wilful
• recalcitrant
• wayward
• willful
• out of hand
• rebellious
• refractory
• headstrong

Examples of unmanageable in a Sentence

an unmanageable dog who had to be returned to the pound

Recent Examples on the Web

The popularity Nirvana gained at stupefying speed and unmanageable proportions in 1991 is impossible to replicate in the culture and music industry of 2025. —Chris R. Morgan, The Washington Examiner, 22 Aug. 2025

If the non-custodial parent presents an immediate and unmanageable safety risk to the child, even within a supervised setting, therapeutic visitation may not be appropriate. —Patricia Fersch, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025

Calculations quickly become unmanageable when more than a few atoms are involved. —Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 17 Aug. 2025

And in the cage, nothing feels unmanageable. —Brian Martin, Oc Register, 15 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1616, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unmanageable

• manageable