cumbersome

[ kuhm-ber-suhm ]

adjective

1. burdensome; troublesome.

   Synonyms: onerous, weighty, heavy

2. unwieldy; clumsy.

   Synonyms: awkward

cumbersome

/ ˈkʌmbəsəm; ˈkʌmbrəs /

adjective

1. awkward because of size, weight, or shape

   cumbersome baggage

2. difficult because of extent or complexity

   cumbersome accounts

Derived Forms

• ˈcumbersomely, adverb
• ˈcumbersomeness, noun

Other Words From

• cumber·some·ly adverb
• cumber·some·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of cumbersome¹

First recorded in 1325–75, cumbersome is from the Middle English word cummyrsum. See cumber, -some ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of cumbersome¹

C14: cumber , short for encumber + -some ¹

Example Sentences

Creating realistic 3D models for applications like virtual reality, filmmaking, and engineering design can be a cumbersome process requiring lots of manual trial and error.

From Science Daily

Other technologies are cumbersome and don't offer precise control of the movement and placement of the spheroids needed to create replicas of human tissue.

From Science Daily

The technology, presented December 2 in the Cell Press journal Cell Biomaterials, offers a promising alternative to the cumbersome process currently used for monitoring brainwaves and diagnosing neurological conditions.

From Science Daily

Since the 1980s, Project 2025 asserted, Medicaid had “evolved into a cumbersome, complicated, and unaffordable burden on nearly every state.”

From Los Angeles Times

The most appealing part about this is that with these designations you can circumvent the often lengthy and cumbersome probate process.

From Salon

Related Words

• bulky
• burdensome
• embarrassing
• heavy
• inconvenient
• ponderous
• tiresome
• unwieldy