unwieldy

adjective

un·​wieldy ˌən-ˈwēl-dē 

: not easily managed, handled, or used (as because of bulk, weight, complexity, or awkwardness) : cumbersome

trying to carry a large, unwieldy box

unwieldily

ˌən-ˈwēl-də-lē 

adverb

unwieldiness

ˌən-ˈwēl-dē-nəs 

noun

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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."

Synonyms of unwieldy

• clumsy
• awkward
• cumbersome
• ungainly
• clunky

Examples of unwieldy in a Sentence

The system is outdated and unwieldy.

an unwieldy machine that requires two people to operate it

Recent Examples on the Web

Because the wheelchairs were so unwieldy, the actors needed to get out of them to relax their bodies. — Kristen Lopez, IndieWire, 2 Nov. 2026

Its proportions strike a nice balance, giving you plenty of screen real estate without making the phone feel unwieldy. — Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 30 Oct. 2026

No Israeli political party has ever won an outright majority in the Knesset, forcing parliamentary factions to build sometimes unwieldy political alliances. — Ilan Ben Zion, Christian Science Monitor, 28 Oct. 2026

Baseball rosters are large and unwieldy; the margins between success and failure are slim and hard to control for. — Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1530, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

unwieldy

adjective

un·​wieldy ˌən-ˈwē(ə)l-dē 

ˈən-

: not easily handled or managed because of size or weight : awkward, cumbersome

an unwieldy tool