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

If logistics fail, traffic becomes unmanageable or the fan experience is poor, this high-profile endorsement backfires. —Tim Derdenger, The Conversation, 7 Apr. 2026

Padres starter Walker Buehler had an unmanageable third inning. —Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026

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

If disability has made your credit card debt unmanageable, several formal and informal relief options are available. —Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1616, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unmanageable

• manageable