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The system is outdated and unwieldy.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

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

Fire & Blood is an unwieldy book to adapt. —Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 15 Jan. 2026

That left the sales team on the hook for an unwieldy volume of make-good units, some of which were carved out of the subsequent Alabama-Clemson title game. —Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 8 Jan. 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