unwieldy
adjective
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The Difference Between Wieldy and Unwieldy
The verb to wield means "to handle or exert something effectively." A carpenter might wield a hammer with impressive dexterity, for example, or a talented orator might wield influence over an audience of listeners. Something that is "wieldy" is capable of being wielded easily, and while that adjective may not be particularly common, its antonym "unwieldy" finds ample use to describe anything that is awkward to handle, move, or manage. "Wield" and its relatives all derive via Middle English from Old English wieldan, meaning "to control."
Examples of unwieldy in a Sentence
Sara Holdren, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2025
And thus, the notion of picking the 25 best players of the first quarter-century seems a fool’s errand, an unwieldy challenge.
—The Athletic Nba Staff, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
While Seehorn fully embodies Carol Sturka’s complexities — her ultra-relatable prickliness, fear, resentment and unwieldy emotions — Gilligan admits to having left a piece of himself in the character.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 8 Nov. 2025
Despite the game’s unwieldy duration, 8 million people were still tuned in to Fox when Freeman’s bat finally called it a night.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unwieldy
Cite this Entry
“Unwieldy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unwieldy. Accessed 17 Nov. 2025.
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unwieldy
adjective
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