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

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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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of cumbersome In an era in which much political content preaches to the choir, and comes in rabid, bite-size chunks, a long-form history podcast may seem like an absurdly cumbersome way to push a message. Joseph Bernstein, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025 In the medium term, reliance on AI will diminish our need and motivation to engage in cumbersome independent thought processes, potentially leading to cognitive atrophy in the long run. Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025 Realizing that the Defense Acquisition Guidebook, which ran to nearly 2,000 pages of rules, was cumbersome and unwieldy, Defense Department leaders launched a massive effort to update it. Mara Karlin, Foreign Affairs, 24 Apr. 2025 For many retailers, cash remains a critical part of daily operations, but depositing that cash is a cumbersome, time-consuming process that has not changed in 30 years. Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cumbersome
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cumbersome
Adjective
  • Where the real Colin and Emma have trouble getting much further than a clumsy hug after a putt-putt date, some of the acting couples have increased their intimacy levels with breathtaking speed.
    Scott Tobias, Vulture, 12 May 2025
  • Word's document comparison interface is also clumsy and confusing compared with FineReader's.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • There was an awkward overhead in the third game that Sinner couldn’t meet square on.
    Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 13 May 2025
  • But the timing of the Rockies’ decision was awkward.
    Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 12 May 2025
Adjective
  • Unlike its larger counterparts that may feel unwieldy within the confines of the hallowed relish tray, the little forks are just the right size for daintily placing in small bowls of various pickled delights, from okra to onions, or nestling alongside the crudités.
    Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 10 May 2025
  • Comment By necessity of its ambitious and sometimes unwieldy four-seasons-in-one structure, the second season of Andor has developed, at its midway point, a complex relationship with time.
    Jesse Hassenger, Vulture, 7 May 2025
Adjective
  • This clunky blue and white astromech is one of only two Star Wars characters to appear in every single one of the main Skywalker films (plus a cameo in Rogue One), with the other being his pal C-3PO.
    EW.com, EW.com, 7 May 2025
  • The days of clunky multi-factor authentication and cumbersome password management are numbered.
    Rajat Bhargava, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Cumbersome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cumbersome. Accessed 22 May. 2025.

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