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 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
The series can be unwieldy in scope, slow to unveil its endgame and uneven in its character development.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 12 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for 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
The series can be unwieldy in scope, slow to unveil its endgame and uneven in its character development.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 12 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unwieldy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unwieldy
Adjective
-
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
-
In a video about an erratic Uber driver, a recognizable dynamic—awkward small talk, impatience to set off—escalates into a life-threatening one.—
Alex Barasch,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
-
Hannah and Garrett’s connection begins with an awkward encounter.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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 certainly not a flimsy, clunky Luka Doncic-and-Antetokounmpo Lakers.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
-
Even so, many on Wall Street saw eBay as a tired company, with a clunky site selling a garage-like hodgepodge of items.—
Phil Wahba,
Fortune,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unwieldy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unwieldy. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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