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
During their initial run from 1975 to 1982, Pere Ubu were an untamable band, merging the loose energy of garage rock with 1960s rock, as well as funk bass, unwieldy saxophones, and Thomas’ commanding presence.
—
Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 24 Apr. 2025
Étoile’s initially unwieldy ensemble also includes Tobias Bell (Maisel’s Gideon Glick), a fragile, neurotic American choreographer whose unorthodox style challenges tradition-loving French audiences.
—Judy Berman, Time, 23 Apr. 2025
Most of these kids’ camp chairs are too unwieldy and are prone to collapsing.
—Joe Jackson, Outside Online, 21 Apr. 2025
In the end, the finale may not have entirely redeemed some pacing issues and unwieldy sprawl, but ended strongly enough to make both seem minor in retrospect.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unwieldy
Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 24 Apr. 2025
Étoile’s initially unwieldy ensemble also includes Tobias Bell (Maisel’s Gideon Glick), a fragile, neurotic American choreographer whose unorthodox style challenges tradition-loving French audiences.
—Judy Berman, Time, 23 Apr. 2025
Most of these kids’ camp chairs are too unwieldy and are prone to collapsing.
—Joe Jackson, Outside Online, 21 Apr. 2025
In the end, the finale may not have entirely redeemed some pacing issues and unwieldy sprawl, but ended strongly enough to make both seem minor in retrospect.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unwieldy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unwieldy
Adjective
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Where the real Colin and Emma have trouble getting much further than a clumsy hug after a putt-putt date, some of the acting couples have increased their intimacy levels with breathtaking speed.—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
12 May 2025
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Word's document comparison interface is also clumsy and confusing compared with FineReader's.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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There was an awkward overhead in the third game that Sinner couldn’t meet square on.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
13 May 2025
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But the timing of the Rockies’ decision was awkward.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
12 May 2025
Adjective
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The development partnership, the Vets Collective, relied on tax credit financing, a cumbersome process that not only can add years to a project but also only funds housing.—
Doug Smith,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2025
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My cumbersome climbing gear rests, along with everyone else’s, on a tarp.—
Michael Ray Taylor,
Smithsonian Magazine,
14 May 2025
Adjective
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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
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Examples imported from 1975 through 1985 had rather ungainly impact bumpers, so early, chrome-bumper cars are aesthetically more desirable.—
Robert Ross,
Robb Report,
21 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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This clunky blue and white astromech is one of only two Star Wars characters to appear in every single one of the main Skywalker films (plus a cameo in Rogue One), with the other being his pal C-3PO.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
7 May 2025
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The days of clunky multi-factor authentication and cumbersome password management are numbered.—
Rajat Bhargava,
Forbes.com,
6 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unwieldy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unwieldy. Accessed 20 May. 2025.
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