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 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
Every song goes for everything, making the album exciting, expansive,and also… unwieldy.
—Brendan Hay, SPIN, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unwieldy
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
Every song goes for everything, making the album exciting, expansive,and also… unwieldy.
—Brendan Hay, SPIN, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unwieldy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unwieldy
Adjective
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Perugino’s compositions tend to be clumsy in their parallels—two people on the left, two people on the right—and the skin typically looks like candle wax.—
Zachary Fine,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
-
The collapse of the talks wasn’t the fault of bad faith or clumsy diplomacy.—
Farah N. Jan,
The Conversation,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Rio de Janeiro mayor Eduardo Cavaliere made headlines earlier this year by banning Chappell Roan from ever performing at the concert after the singer had an awkward encounter with the stepdaughter of Brazilian soccer player Jorginho.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
27 Apr. 2026
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The White House Correspondents’ Association dinner is one of Washington’s enduring, if somewhat awkward, rituals.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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But the point stands that the means to make a movie—once cumbersome and expensive—now fits in the palm of your hand.—
Dennis Lim,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Unfortunately, clear aquarium-style cages can be heavy and cumbersome to move.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
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 2 May. 2026.
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