unwieldy

or un·wield·ly

[ uhn-weel-dee ]

adjective

, un·wield·i·er, un·wield·i·est.

1. not wieldy; wielded with difficulty; not readily handled or managed in use or action, as from size, shape, or weight; awkward; ungainly.

   Synonyms: unmanageable, clumsy, bulky

unwieldy

/ ʌnˈwiːldɪ /

adjective

1. too heavy, large, or awkwardly shaped to be easily handled
2. ungainly; clumsy

Derived Forms

• unˈwieldily, adverb
• unˈwieldiness, noun

Other Words From

• un·wieldi·ly adverb
• un·wieldi·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of unwieldy¹

First recorded in 1350–1400, unwieldy is from the Middle English word unweldy. See un- ¹, wieldy

Example Sentences

The saga of this pesticide, which has the unwieldy name chlorpyrifos, is a stark reminder of why so many Americans are alarmed about industrial farming and the food supply.

From New York Times

Though, his own class has been particularly unwieldy ahead of Wednesday.

From Los Angeles Times

While it may be true that we spend a fair share of our time on freeways, there are thriving pedestrian-friendly pockets tucked all around our unwieldy city.

From Los Angeles Times

The unwieldy best-of-three format, on the other hand, fits like a square peg in a round hole.

From Los Angeles Times

Although chicanery happens on a local level, Jackson observed that the unwieldy and labyrinthine nature of America's electoral system serves as a built-in protection against outright election theft.

From Salon

Related Words

• burdensome
• clumsy
• cumbersome
• inconvenient
• massive
• onerous
• ponderous
• ungainly
• unmanageable