Synonyms of cumbersome

cumbersome

adjective

ˈkəm-bər-səm 

as in clumsy

difficult to use or operate especially because of size, weight, or design

a long-handled wrench that is too cumbersome for tight spots, such as under the sink

Synonyms & Similar Words

• clumsy
• awkward
• unwieldy
• clunky
• ungainly
• cumbrous
• unhandy
• ponderous
• heavy
• impractical
• cranky
• bulky
• unmanageable
• massive
• bunglesome
• uncontrollable
• impracticable
• dinosauric
• elephantine
• hulking
• dinosaurian

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• practical
• useful
• functional
• handy
• practicable
• serviceable

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective cumbersome differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of cumbersome are cumbrous, heavy, ponderous, and weighty. While all these words mean "having great weight," cumbrous and cumbersome imply heaviness and bulkiness that make for difficulty in grasping, moving, carrying, or manipulating.

wrestled with the cumbrous furniture

early cameras were cumbersome and inconvenient

Where would heavy be a reasonable alternative to cumbersome?

While in some cases nearly identical to cumbersome, heavy implies that something has greater density or thickness than the average of its kind or class.

a heavy child for his age

When can ponderous be used instead of cumbersome?

The words ponderous and cumbersome can be used in similar contexts, but ponderous implies having great weight because of size and massiveness with resulting great inertia.

ponderous elephants in a circus parade

When might weighty be a better fit than cumbersome?

In some situations, the words weighty and cumbersome are roughly equivalent. However, weighty suggests having actual and not just relative weight.

a load of weighty boxes

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of cumbersome

East Bay assemblywoman wins big as Gov. Gavin Newsom signs her landmark bill to waive cumbersome environmental reviews to build infill housing in cities, which is expected to boost supply and curb costs. —Bay Area News Group, Mercury News, 6 July 2025

Yet the cumbersome process imposed by the order, and the court's unpredictable enforcement of its new scheme, has brought such removals to a stand-still. —Sophie Clark, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 July 2025

This method is fast to install; however, in autumn, separating the plants from the netting is cumbersome. —Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 July 2025

Second, immigrant families could obtain relief through class-action lawsuits, although filing class actions in federal court can be a lengthy and cumbersome process. —Nell Salzman, Chicago Tribune, 6 July 2025