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
Dealing with large, unwieldy bed sheets can be a challenge, whether folding them or washing them.
—
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2026
The series can be unwieldy in scope, slow to unveil its endgame and uneven in its character development.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 12 Apr. 2026
At times, that means dense lyrics that almost feel unwieldy, which Taub cleverly addresses early on.
—Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 8 Apr. 2026
For the present, we’re saddled with the unwieldy dilemma of there being eight major Democratic candidates and just two Republicans.
—George Skelton, Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unwieldy
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2026
The series can be unwieldy in scope, slow to unveil its endgame and uneven in its character development.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 12 Apr. 2026
At times, that means dense lyrics that almost feel unwieldy, which Taub cleverly addresses early on.
—Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 8 Apr. 2026
For the present, we’re saddled with the unwieldy dilemma of there being eight major Democratic candidates and just two Republicans.
—George Skelton, Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unwieldy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unwieldy
Adjective
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Furthermore, Sharpe spent six months learning how to tinkle the ivories, an impressive commitment which pays off during the pivotal piano battles and ensures a welcome absence of clumsy cutaways from fingers to face.—
Jon O'Brien,
IndieWire,
8 May 2026
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Then with a little nudging, the clumsy newborn finds the udder bulging between the cow’s back legs and hungrily suckles colostrum so critical for its first feeding.—
Susan Koch,
Chicago Tribune,
8 May 2026
Adjective
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Cohen offered limited clarity on the structure during what at times was a combative and awkward interview, repeatedly directing viewers to the company's website for details.—
Yun Li,Anniek Bao,Annie Palmer,
CNBC,
4 May 2026
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The awkward catching-up process turns into energetic conversations about race, relationships, class, status and rehabilitation, then shifts to deep familial spiritual bonding.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
4 May 2026
Adjective
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These tanks needed to be swift, well-protected, and capable of delivering high volumes of firepower, without being extremely cumbersome or heavy.—
Matthew S Williams,
Interesting Engineering,
7 May 2026
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Traditional borrowing can be cumbersome, but some institutions will lend to collectors solely on the value of their art holdings.—
The Editors of ARTnews,
Robb Report,
7 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
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And instead of clunky space heaters, Russo recommends seating that stays cozy on its own.—
Kelly Dawson,
Architectural Digest,
28 Apr. 2026
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Though the vacuum and included emptying station might appear clunky at first, there’s a functional reason for that rocket-like appearance.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unwieldy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unwieldy. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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