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

The problem is not that Los Angeles cares too little about education; the problem is the unmanageable and underperforming bureaucracy to which delivering education has been entrusted. —Daniel L Gordon, Daily News, 29 Mar. 2026

For those whose disability is long-term and whose debt has become truly unmanageable, filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy may allow for a discharge of unsecured debt, including credit card balances. —Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026

Twin Rivers Unified School District teachers returned to their classrooms Monday, ending the union’s first-ever strike, a 12-day walkout motivated by what teachers described as untenable health care costs and unmanageable class sizes. —Sacbee.com, 23 Mar. 2026

Citing unmanageable workloads and staffing shortages, Raju’s office started to refuse some cases in May. —David Hernandez, San Francisco Chronicle, 13 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1616, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unmanageable

• manageable