unwieldy

adjective

un·​wieldy ˌən-ˈwēl-dē 

: not easily managed, handled, or used (as because of bulk, weight, complexity, or awkwardness) : cumbersome

unwieldily

ˌən-ˈwēl-də-lē 

adverb

unwieldiness

ˌən-ˈwēl-dē-nəs 

noun

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The Difference Between Wieldy and Unwieldy

The verb to wield means "to handle or exert something effectively." A carpenter might wield a hammer with impressive dexterity, for example, or a talented orator might wield influence over an audience of listeners. Something that is "wieldy" is capable of being wielded easily, and while that adjective may not be particularly common, its antonym "unwieldy" finds ample use to describe anything that is awkward to handle, move, or manage. "Wield" and its relatives all derive via Middle English from Old English wieldan, meaning "to control."

Synonyms

• awkward
• bunglesome
• clumsy
• clunky
• cranky
• cumbersome
• cumbrous
• ponderous
• ungainly
• unhandy

Examples of unwieldy in a Sentence

The system is outdated and unwieldy.

an unwieldy machine that requires two people to operate it

Recent Examples on the Web

Previous iterations of this biennial also presented Toronto as the locus of histories of faraway places but, with the world building grown unwieldy, inadequately explained why these stories belong together. —Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 22 Oct. 2024

In less capable hands, mapping a story that becomes more involved, spans geographies and timespans, and takes in ever more characters and arcs could make for an unwieldy production, and an overwhelming experience for the viewer. —Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2024

Melisa Rollins Finally Won the Race That Shaped Her Pro Cycling Career Organizers have cited this unwieldy event format in the past as a key reason not to include women—there simply wasn’t enough time to get all the competitors down safely, in a good weather window. —Jayme Moye, Outside Online, 9 Oct. 2024

True, the algorithm’s output—a full description of how the atoms in a spin system are oriented in thermal equilibrium—is too unwieldy to store on a classical machine. —Ben Brubaker, WIRED, 22 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1530, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

unwieldy

adjective

un·​wieldy ˌən-ˈwē(ə)l-dē 

ˈən-

: not easily handled or managed because of size or weight : awkward, cumbersome

an unwieldy tool