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 organization has become so unwieldy that even its most well-meaning workers describe being caught in a culture of toxic inefficiency, hamstrung by problems of accountability, organization, and funding.
—
Amanda Chicago Lewis, Harpers Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025
But as evening hours set in, the upbeat tone stood at odds with the unwieldy scene at the Capitol.
—Joey Cappelletti, Chicago Tribune, 21 May 2025
There’s a lot of comedy in the unwieldy quadrilateral chest panel of Alex’s dress.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 6 May 2025
That’s precisely where Evans wreaks the most havoc, ignoring (or simply not understanding) what connects us to such characters in the first place — and therefore ensuring that his unwieldy Netflix vehicle is dead on arrival.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unwieldy
Amanda Chicago Lewis, Harpers Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025
But as evening hours set in, the upbeat tone stood at odds with the unwieldy scene at the Capitol.
—Joey Cappelletti, Chicago Tribune, 21 May 2025
There’s a lot of comedy in the unwieldy quadrilateral chest panel of Alex’s dress.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 6 May 2025
That’s precisely where Evans wreaks the most havoc, ignoring (or simply not understanding) what connects us to such characters in the first place — and therefore ensuring that his unwieldy Netflix vehicle is dead on arrival.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unwieldy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unwieldy
Adjective
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These transitions, between past and present, are sometimes clumsy but sometimes genuinely sweet, as with an old letter that near-simultaneously is dictated and written, received and read, and finally rediscovered (and only partially understood) in the 21st century.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
27 May 2025
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Wildlife officials helped remove a black bear found hanging out in the kitchen of a Kentucky home after an impressive, yet clumsy break-in, photos show.—
Mitchell Willetts,
Kansas City Star,
25 May 2025
Adjective
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From awkward silences to unresolved tensions, most of us would rather scroll, text, or disappear than risk a moment of raw, honest connection.—
Margie Warrell,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
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The feelings of being sweaty, red-faced and kind of awkward is very familiar to me.—
Mark Olsen,
Los Angeles Times,
5 June 2025
Adjective
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Their goal is also to reduce stress for breastfeeding parents and avoid the cumbersome use of pre- and post-feed weighing of infants.—
Melissa Willets,
Parents,
26 May 2025
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Although effective, such tests are both expensive and cumbersome and probably not efficient enough to handle the growing need for early diagnosis.—
Paul Smaglik,
Discover Magazine,
20 May 2025
Adjective
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The resulting Cheetah was, frankly, an ungainly machine, more like an oversized four-wheel ATV than a Ford Bronco or Mercedes G-Wagen.—
Will Sabel Courtney,
Robb Report,
22 May 2025
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That dispute was patched over by an ungainly agreement, negotiated between the European Commission and the U.S. government.—
Henry Farrell,
Foreign Affairs,
3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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As a result, support links end up buried, forms become clunky and chatbots are the only visible option.—
Gabriel Shaoolian,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
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The episode is clunky, offensive, and very outdated.—
Melissa Locker,
Time,
30 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unwieldy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unwieldy. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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