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
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Recent Examples of unwieldy
The poor equipment manager was struggling with the unwieldy block.
—
Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
The high court did not opine on the process of refunds, and government officials at first suggested the process could prove unwieldy.
—Alina Selyukh, NPR, 19 Apr. 2026
The empire was territorially vast but unwieldy and politically fragile by the end of his reign.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Apr. 2026
Dealing with large, unwieldy bed sheets can be a challenge, whether folding them or washing them.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unwieldy
Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
The high court did not opine on the process of refunds, and government officials at first suggested the process could prove unwieldy.
—Alina Selyukh, NPR, 19 Apr. 2026
The empire was territorially vast but unwieldy and politically fragile by the end of his reign.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Apr. 2026
Dealing with large, unwieldy bed sheets can be a challenge, whether folding them or washing them.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unwieldy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unwieldy
Adjective
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But less fine is Kreutzer’s decision to make Kühn’s own domestic challenges a parallel story, set up in clumsy counterpoint with Lucy’s.—
Stephanie Bunbury,
Deadline,
15 May 2026
-
Salmonflies, however, are bigger and clumsier than smaller insects like mayflies.—
Dac Collins,
Outdoor Life,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
After her death, Riley read her diaries, an awkward experience at times.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
-
On-screen, Armitage’s portrayal of the socially awkward Sheldon has earned him critical acclaim.—
Jane LaCroix,
PEOPLE,
17 May 2026
Adjective
-
Around James and Anthony Davis — who, fun fact, made just $27 million that season before agreeing to a historic and more cumbersome three-year extension — the Lakers had shooters who could defend, like Danny Green.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
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Plus, cages can be more cumbersome to store over the winter than stakes.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 May 2026
Adjective
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In its back-to-back knottiness, the album takes on an ungainly quality that, deliberate or not, sets up roadblocks to prolonged enjoyment.—
Maxie Younger,
Pitchfork,
27 Mar. 2026
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The situation has grown so ungainly and untenable that, if Silicon Valley is merely forced to slow down, the viability of all this spending will likely be called into question in ways that could be devastating for many.—
Matteo Wong,
The Atlantic,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Like a false note on an out-of-tune piano, a clunky verb, a sentence without rhythm, yanks the reader out the flow of the work.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2026
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A little clunky, but not bad for a vehicle that's been around for 80 years.—
Itay Hod,
CBS News,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unwieldy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unwieldy. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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