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
Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 26 Jan. 2026
This is the Goldilocks board—substantial without being unwieldy, and priced right for most home cooks.
—Lizzy Briskin, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Jan. 2026
As the executive chef at Koya, an udon bar in London, Yamasaki cooked live eels, whose bodies could remain jumpy and unwieldy even once their heads had been chopped off.
—Hannah Goldfield, New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2026
Given the state of the industry and how unwieldy AAA blockbusters have become, layoffs and Gerighty leaving a game with no release year at all do not inspire much confidence.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unwieldy
Cite this Entry
“Unwieldy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unwieldy. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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unwieldy
adjective
