unwieldy

adjective

ˌən-ˈwēl-dē How to pronounce unwieldy (audio)
Definition of unwieldynext
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

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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 The salt flats are a big, unwieldy space to navigate, but the feeling of getting lost on them (with a guide who knows their way perfectly) is a real treat. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Sep. 2026 Tanvir managed to run a fan using an unwieldy connection of power cords. — Diaa Hadid, NPR, 1 Sep. 2026 The government has continued to struggle to improve its financial standing, including by reducing unwieldy debt and excess spending, for years. — Sofi Zeman august 31, Kansas City Star, 31 Aug. 2026 Having one starting pitcher repeat an unwieldy path from a season ago is one thing. — Doug Padilla, Oc Register, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unwieldy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unwieldy
  1. clumsy
  2. awkward
  3. cumbersome
  4. ungainly
  5. clunky
Adjective
  • One of the clumsiest parts of Klosterman’s book is his attempts at political punditry.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Feed your head Neagley gets off to a sluggish start, with a workmanlike, rather clumsy first episode largely spent establishing the main characters and central plot—and the writers lean a bit too hard on constant Chicago callbacks.
    — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of clumsy
Adjective
  • The payoff is that bulky, awkward items like pot lids and foil boxes stop monopolizing a shelf and become easy to grab.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Within this awkward relic of several other ages, New York’s past gets fetishized, chopped up, and whirled together into digestible entertainment.
    — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of awkward
Adjective
  • But those devices remain bulky and cumbersome, and require controllers to use.
    — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2026
  • But the cumbersome requirements for taking the drugs, as well as a series of safety concerns, stifled their use.
    — Allison DeAngelis, STAT, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of cumbersome
Adjective
  • Snow geese are large, ungainly animals, while this puppet one is sleek and white.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Another standout scene features Floyd, who looks like a soft, somewhat ungainly middle-aged man, suddenly getting on a pommel horse and doing something extraordinary.
    — Dana Feldman, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of ungainly
Adjective
  • Even the offense, with another Heisman Trophy candidate at quarterback, looked clunky and out of sync.
    — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Running parallel to this butchery investigation is the arrival of perpetually hungover FBI agent Gwen Birgssen, played by British actress Lily James with an incomprehensible southern drawl and some clunky platitudes that veer into genre parody.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of clunky

Browse Nearby Words

unwholesome
unwieldy
unwilled
See all Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Unwieldy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unwieldy. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

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