unwieldy
Americanadjective
adjective
-
too heavy, large, or awkwardly shaped to be easily handled
-
ungainly; clumsy
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of unwieldy
First recorded in 1350–1400, unwieldy is from the Middle English word unweldy. See un- 1, wieldy
Explanation
If you see an unwieldy person coming down the aisle of the bus with an unwieldy box, you may want to step aside because that's a double dose of clumsy. It's an awkward person carrying a box that is difficult to manage. Something that is wieldy is easy to control or handle, so something unwieldy is not. However, the un- form of the word is much more common. The base word wieldy has its roots in Old English, meaning "to handle or control" — used usually in reference to a weapon. You would not want an unwieldy person attempting to wield an unwieldy sword!
Vocabulary lists containing unwieldy
The Giver
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Power Prefix: un-
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
This Week in Words: September 29 - October 5, 2018
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
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.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026
He did so by focusing on internal research and development paired with smaller deals, rather than relying on unwieldy corporate consolidation.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026
"No long and unwieldy constitutional amendment is necessary," he said.
From BBC ● Jun. 30, 2026
There’s also a decent nonpartisan argument that the Ninth Circuit, which covers nine states and about 20% of Americans, is unwieldy and should be split into two.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 31, 2026
Now that I see how unwieldy and overpowered his swing is, I have zero doubt he’ll mistime it and swing too soon.
From "Fast Pitch" by Nic Stone
By last week, 41 nations had joined UNESCO, a body with an unwieldy name and an unwieldier problem: the crisis in world culture.
From Time Magazine Archive
The workingmen looked all the coarser and unwieldier by contrast.
From The Song of Songs by Hermann Sudermann
He came up with the largest, unwieldiest and financially nuttiest proposal in the history of Pasadena Playhouse.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 5, 2023
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
