cumbersome

adjective

ˈkəm-bər-səm How to pronounce cumbersome (audio)
Definition of cumbersomenext
as in clumsy
difficult to use or operate especially because of size, weight, or design a long-handled wrench that is too cumbersome for tight spots, such as under the sink

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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How does the adjective cumbersome differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of cumbersome are cumbrous, heavy, ponderous, and weighty. While all these words mean "having great weight," cumbrous and cumbersome imply heaviness and bulkiness that make for difficulty in grasping, moving, carrying, or manipulating.

wrestled with the cumbrous furniture
early cameras were cumbersome and inconvenient

Where would heavy be a reasonable alternative to cumbersome?

While in some cases nearly identical to cumbersome, heavy implies that something has greater density or thickness than the average of its kind or class.

a heavy child for his age

When can ponderous be used instead of cumbersome?

The words ponderous and cumbersome can be used in similar contexts, but ponderous implies having great weight because of size and massiveness with resulting great inertia.

ponderous elephants in a circus parade

When might weighty be a better fit than cumbersome?

In some situations, the words weighty and cumbersome are roughly equivalent. However, weighty suggests having actual and not just relative weight.

a load of weighty boxes

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 cumbersome But those devices remain bulky and cumbersome, and require controllers to use. — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2026 But the cumbersome requirements for taking the drugs, as well as a series of safety concerns, stifled their use. — Allison Deangelis, STAT, 23 Sep. 2026 Creating the pipeline Although skilled chip workers are concentrated overseas, bringing over foreign talent on H-1B visas has become a costly and cumbersome process. — Katie Tarasov, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2026 The 2019 Speedster followed in a long line of roofless performers dating back to the earliest days of the company, but that machine made do with a cumbersome fabric top that took minutes to manually attach. — Tim Stevens, Robb Report, 14 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cumbersome
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cumbersome
  1. clumsy
  2. awkward
  3. unwieldy
  4. clunky
Adjective
  • Some Latinas are nerds, and some Latinas are quirky, and some of them are goofy and some of them are clumsy.
    — Johanna Ferreira, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
  • One of the clumsiest parts of Klosterman’s book is his attempts at political punditry.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of clumsy
Adjective
  • The latest unit retains the same first six forward ratios as the outgoing Carrera T’s manual transmission, but ditches its predecessor’s somewhat awkward and largely superfluous seventh gear.
    — Bradley Iger, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Unsurprisingly, writers have developed a myriad of strategies and tricks to push through this awkward stage.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of awkward
Adjective
  • But for some residents, they are seen as a nuisance, with unwieldy roots or too many leaves to rake up.
    — Kendra Nordin Beato, Christian Science Monitor, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The eight episodes dropping on Prime Video October 7 comprise an unwieldy story that sprawls widely around Carrie but also seems afraid of her — and not in the way King’s novel intended.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of unwieldy
Adjective
  • Affordable electric bikes usually mean enduring heavy frames, clunky kick-in for the motor and unrefined, unpredictable power delivery.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 19 Oct. 2026
  • But women looking for front wands have been stuck with unheated manual models or clunky sprayers.
    — Eliza Thompson, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of clunky

Browse Nearby Words

cumbers
cumbersome
cumbersomeness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cumbersome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cumbersome. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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