Synonyms of unwieldy

unwieldy

adjective

ˌən-ˈwēl-dē 

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

• clumsy
• awkward
• cumbersome
• ungainly
• clunky
• cumbrous
• ponderous
• unhandy
• heavy
• cranky
• impractical
• unmanageable
• massive
• bulky
• uncontrollable
• bunglesome
• impracticable
• elephantine
• dinosauric
• hulking
• dinosaurian

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• useful
• practical
• handy
• functional
• practicable
• serviceable

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of unwieldy

The sprawling business model that competitors once envied had become a liability—unwieldy, capital-intensive, and increasingly unable to compete in focused, fast-moving markets. — Shawn Tully, Fortune, 23 July 2026

In video of the occupation, Tubbs and his trusty dog Pujo can be seen sitting atop a towering twenty-foot platform, precariously balanced on two long poles anchored by an unwieldy pair of cables. — Literary Hub, 10 July 2026

But the unwieldy timeline of the training facility’s completion has begun to erode trust from the latest iteration of the Sky roster. — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 8 July 2026

Montmartre, actually, is a good example of what happens when the number of tourists becomes too unwieldy to manage—shops and services here have pivoted away from supporting locals, becoming souvenir stores and tourist-only businesses. — Alex Ledsom, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

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