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 But retrofitting buses, schools, and other places where people congregate with filtering systems is unwieldy and expensive. — Veronique Greenwood, Time, 24 June 2026 The anxieties, the mess, the whole unwieldy tapestry of the celebration has nothing at all to do with me. — Bobby Finger june 16, Literary Hub, 16 June 2026 Could the deal spur Fox to examine what is becoming an unwieldy streaming portfolio? — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 15 June 2026 An organization with the unwieldy name of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing — NASCAR — was born. — Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for unwieldy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unwieldy
  1. clumsy
  2. awkward
  3. cumbersome
  4. ungainly
  5. clunky
Adjective
  • But more broadly, as streaming became the dominant way audiences consume entertainment, a shelf full of stuff started to look like a relic of a clumsier time that most folks were happy to forget.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 10 July 2026
  • The decision last fall followed clumsy discussion by Kennedy’s dubiously qualified advisors, who make up the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
    — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 10 July 2026
Definition of clumsy
Adjective
  • Experts note that old brand safety rules are being recalibrated; the key is for brands to align authentically with the show's energy without appearing awkward.
    — Toni Fitzgerald, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026
  • Suki, a vocal Black woman with an at times vulgar persona, whereas Althoff, a white woman, gained a reputation as an awkward, seemingly timid interviewer on her The Really Good Podcast.
    — Meagan Jordan, VIBE.com, 10 July 2026
Definition of awkward
Adjective
  • Moving fast and smart – as an efficiency first strategy enables – is the winner as compared to the more cumbersome and costly conventional approach.
    — Kathleen “Katie” McGinty, Fortune, 6 July 2026
  • For example, in tenant onboarding, using AI to automatically auto-fill and email a 50-page PDF lease just speeds up the generation of a static, cumbersome document that still requires manual follow-ups.
    — Ali Hoss, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of cumbersome
Adjective
  • Using original photographs, and input from the Pourtout archives, the restoration team reversed the ungainly Saoutchik body modifications, and the curved windshield and twin rear-window design returned.
    — Howard Walker, Robb Report, 3 July 2026
  • Instead of an ungainly pile of pillows, modern buyers prefer to let the materials sing.
    — Abby Wolner, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 June 2026
Definition of ungainly
Adjective
  • Too clunky to be S-tier Nolan, but the last act rewards the journey.
    — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 6 July 2026
  • This detail—along with the slim design that slips seamlessly into low-profile shoes without looking clunky—makes the insoles ideal for wearing with sockless footwear, such as ballet flats or loafers.
    — Irene Richardson, InStyle, 5 July 2026
Definition of clunky

Browse Nearby Words

unwholesome
unwieldy
unwilled
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“Unwieldy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unwieldy. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of unwieldy for Spanish Speakers

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