UNWIELDY Synonyms: 27 Similar and Opposite Words

unwieldy

adjective

ˌən-ˈwēl-dē

Definition of unwieldy

as in clumsy

difficult to use or operate especially because of size, weight, or design an unwieldy machine that requires two people to operate it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 unwieldy In 2018, New York City officials rolled out a voucher program with an unwieldy name, CityFHEPS, and the laudable goal of decreasing homelessness by subsidizing housing. — Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 6 July 2026 So imagine my delight at finding a way to ease these challenges while also improving my notoriously bad posture — something that didn’t involve complicated tech (like wires and sensors) or unwieldy physical objects. — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 25 June 2026 But retrofitting buses, schools, and other places where people congregate with filtering systems is unwieldy and expensive. — Veronique Greenwood, Time, 24 June 2026 An organization with the unwieldy name of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing — NASCAR — was born. — Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for unwieldy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unwieldy

Adjective

But more broadly, as streaming became the dominant way audiences consume entertainment, a shelf full of stuff started to look like a relic of a clumsier time that most folks were happy to forget.

— Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 10 July 2026
The decision last fall followed clumsy discussion by Kennedy’s dubiously qualified advisors, who make up the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

— Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 10 July 2026

Definition of clumsy

Adjective

Experts note that old brand safety rules are being recalibrated; the key is for brands to align authentically with the show's energy without appearing awkward.

— Toni Fitzgerald, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026
Suki, a vocal Black woman with an at times vulgar persona, whereas Althoff, a white woman, gained a reputation as an awkward, seemingly timid interviewer on her The Really Good Podcast.

— Meagan Jordan, VIBE.com, 10 July 2026

Definition of awkward

Adjective

That access is being strangled by an old and cumbersome permitting process for electrical transmission.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 13 July 2026
Before that, an early version relied on a physical switch on the side of the ECU, a cumbersome setup that meant popping the hood, removing trim, and flipping a switch.

— Peter Nelson, ArsTechnica, 10 July 2026

Definition of cumbersome

Adjective

Using original photographs, and input from the Pourtout archives, the restoration team reversed the ungainly Saoutchik body modifications, and the curved windshield and twin rear-window design returned.

— Howard Walker, Robb Report, 3 July 2026
Instead of an ungainly pile of pillows, modern buyers prefer to let the materials sing.

— Abby Wolner, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 June 2026

Definition of ungainly

Adjective

But those early devices were clunky and expensive, good for large mammals such as moose and caribou, but not fit for commercial use on pets.

— Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 11 July 2026
Max Homa, who arrived with momentum after a runner-up finish at the John Deere Classic and opened with a 67, slid down the leaderboard after a clunky second round.

— Mike Dojc, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026

Definition of clunky

Browse Nearby Words

unwholesome

unwieldy

unwilled

See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

Style

“Unwieldy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unwieldy. Accessed 17 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of unwieldy

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on unwieldy

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

obdurate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 17

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes