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 The shares are down more than 55% this year, and the global auto giant faces mounting pressure for radical action to counter Chinese competition, repair the damage from costly electric-vehicle missteps and prune an unwieldy stable of brands. — Neil Winton, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026 Amazon’s Prime Video continues to be the most unwieldy streaming service with literally hundreds of titles getting added and dropped every few days. — Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2026 So a pinch of surprising depth proves to be the most unwieldy move when Roth unveils a resonantly nasty surprise for his story’s endgame. — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2026 In contrast, ChatTJB’s responses are unwieldy and unpredictable. — Maggie Harrison Dupré, Futurism, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unwieldy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unwieldy
  1. clumsy
  2. awkward
  3. cumbersome
  4. ungainly
  5. clunky
Adjective
  • Such episodes now look like clumsy moments in a decade of dissembling.
    — Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Yirenki’s challenge on Christos Tzolis is clumsy, but well short of a first yellow card, let alone a second.
    — Graham Scott, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of clumsy
Adjective
  • Lug a bulky, awkward, bear-proof canister to store your food so you don’t get mauled.
    — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • That puts the conference’s universities in an awkward—and potentially paradoxical—position of promoting a product that researchers within their academic departments have raised concerns about.
    — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of awkward
Adjective
  • Another important implication is that once a country is removed from the State Department list, getting it back on is bureaucratically cumbersome.
    — Jason M. Blazakis, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Fall decor that is too cluttered, sharp, or cumbersome is often to blame.
    — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of cumbersome
Adjective
  • Another standout scene features Floyd, who looks like a soft, somewhat ungainly middle-aged man, suddenly getting on a pommel horse and doing something extraordinary.
    — Dana Feldman, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
  • 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
Definition of ungainly
Adjective
  • Failing to do so can make for a clunky, inefficient shift and wear down components over time.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The boyfriend, a British DJ named James Kennedy, who had been playing a clunky set in the background, weaves over to the women, sweaty and frazzled.
    — Sylvia Varnham O’Regan, Vanity Fair, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of clunky

Browse Nearby Words

unwholesome
unwieldy
unwilled
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Cite this Entry

“Unwieldy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unwieldy. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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