unwieldy

American  

[uhn-weel-dee] / ʌnˈwil di /

Or unwieldly

adjective

unwieldier, unwieldiest

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

   Synonyms:

   clumsy, unmanageable, bulky

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unwieldy British  

/ ʌnˈwiːldɪ /

adjective

1. too heavy, large, or awkwardly shaped to be easily handled

2. ungainly; clumsy

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Other Word Forms

• unwieldily adverb
• unwieldiness noun

Etymology

Origin of unwieldy

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

Example Sentences

It’s unwieldy and imperfect but also at times quite moving thanks to the superlative work of its stars.

From Los Angeles Times

Their stocks traded at lower valuations than their pure-play peers because investors felt the conglomerates were more unwieldy.

From Barron's

But single-family homes, spread out and each with individual maintenance issues, had been considered unwieldy to manage en masse.

From The Wall Street Journal

They acknowledge the 27-country bloc is unwieldy but see it as a defender of European sovereignty.

From The Wall Street Journal

With a vast cast of characters, the novel is at times unwieldy.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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