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 of unmanageable

• uncontrollable
• stubborn
• intractable
• unruly
• ungovernable
• difficult
• 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

Today, people amass unmanageable debt simply to keep faith with a story that feels increasingly detached from their reality. —Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 22 June 2026

When your credit card debt is unmanageable, check with the National Foundation for Credit Counseling about what other options might be available. —Jeanne Sahadi, CNN Money, 17 June 2026

Its loss leaves a noticeable gap in the network, but not an unmanageable one, scientists say. —Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 17 June 2026

The imperative now is to manage the unavoidable and avoid the unmanageable. —Anjali Chaudhry, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1616, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unmanageable

• manageable