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

Relevance

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 The replacement unit has proven reliable, but unwieldy. — Kat Merck, WIRED, 5 Feb. 2025 Whatever the song wants to say is impossible to fight against, even if unwieldy or strange. — Marcus K. Dowling, The Tennessean, 18 Dec. 2024 Due to their unwieldy shape, crystal decanters are hard to situate securely in a dishwasher, and rocks glasses are tough but fragile. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 21 Feb. 2025 Seedlings have visibly outgrown their containers and have become leggy, top-heavy, or unwieldy. — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unwieldy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unwieldy
  1. clumsy
  2. awkward
  3. cumbersome
  4. ungainly
  5. clunky
Adjective
  • Unlike clumsier species that struggle with obstacles, the black mamba leverages every surface with surgical precision, effectively turning the landscape into a series of launchpads.
    — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
  • There’s also a touching subplot for the clumsy, muted Dopey (Andrew Barth Feldman), who’s regularly the butt of the other dwarfs’ jokes.
    — Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2025
Definition of clumsy
Adjective
  • While Susan’s style gets all the attention, there’s a story to be told in Roberta’s awkward glow-up, too.
    — Scarlett Harris, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2025
  • The timing is awkward for Google, coming just days after Microsoft’s latest warning implying users would be safer switching from Chrome to Edge.
    — Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025
Definition of awkward
Adjective
  • As legal professionals gain increasing authority over AI deployment decisions, new internal stakeholders are introduced, making the organizational process of adopting AI systems more cumbersome.
    — Nizan Geslevich Packin, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Like so many others, they are left with an impossible choice: involve the criminal justice system — which may be slow, cumbersome and invasive — or do nothing and hope the situation doesn’t escalate.
    — Eric Gonzalez, New York Daily News, 26 Mar. 2025
Definition of cumbersome
Adjective
  • 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
  • You're locked into an ungainly, spread armed, weak kneed Character: snowplow.
    — Outside Online, Outside Online, 19 Feb. 2025
Definition of ungainly
Adjective
  • For over an hour at Molineux, Everton’s attack had been clunky.
    — Patrick Boyland, The Athletic, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Democrats are already perceived as supporters of big, clunky government.
    — Laura Washington, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of clunky

Browse Nearby Words

unwholesome
unwieldy
unwilled
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP

Cite this Entry

“Unwieldy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unwieldy. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on unwieldy

Nglish: Translation of unwieldy for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults

More Words with Remarkable Origins

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
burrowing owl athene cunicularia tilts its head outside its burrow on marco island florida
Guess the Curious Origins of These Everyday Words Oh, that’s where that comes from…
See All