cumbersome
adjective
cum·ber·some
ˈkəm-bər-səm 
1
: unwieldy because of heaviness and bulk
a cumbersome package
2
: slow-moving : ponderous
cumbersome administrative procedures
3
dialect
: burdensome, troublesome
cumbersomely
adverb
cumbersomeness
noun
Examples of cumbersome in a Sentence
Squad members, already decked out in cumbersome chemical suits, put on masks and rubber gloves.
—
Ray Wilkinson, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 1991
He got the approval of the higher-ups, but the course was scuttled by members of his own department, who devised all kinds of cumbersome, silly requirements and prerequisites.
—Alice Munro, New Yorker, 20 Mar. 1989
He cut some segments of the 2" pine but discovered that … a cumbersome system of braces would be needed to hold the sides straight.
—John Updike, Couples, 1968
The application process is cumbersome and time-consuming.
Her expanded job title is really cumbersome.
Ray Wilkinson, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 1991
He got the approval of the higher-ups, but the course was scuttled by members of his own department, who devised all kinds of cumbersome, silly requirements and prerequisites.
—Alice Munro, New Yorker, 20 Mar. 1989
He cut some segments of the 2" pine but discovered that … a cumbersome system of braces would be needed to hold the sides straight.
—John Updike, Couples, 1968
The application process is cumbersome and time-consuming.
Her expanded job title is really cumbersome.
Recent Examples on the Web
Big, cumbersome, and greasy, baking sheets can be a pain to clean and dry off.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 21 Sep. 2025
The amendment’s ambiguous language, cumbersome procedures, and insufficient safeguards create dangerous vulnerabilities in our democratic system that must be addressed.
—Lynn Schmidt, Twin Cities, 19 Sep. 2025
Unlike baby boomers who embraced existing institutions to get rich and live a comfortable life, the younger generations do not feel that institutions—which are perceived as cumbersome, hierarchical, and a source of inequality and discrimination—can improve their situation.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2025
Each transition creates a risk of leaving a 401(k) behind, especially when workers are unaware of their options or deterred by cumbersome rollover processes.
—Brian Menickella, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cumbersome
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Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 21 Sep. 2025
The amendment’s ambiguous language, cumbersome procedures, and insufficient safeguards create dangerous vulnerabilities in our democratic system that must be addressed.
—Lynn Schmidt, Twin Cities, 19 Sep. 2025
Unlike baby boomers who embraced existing institutions to get rich and live a comfortable life, the younger generations do not feel that institutions—which are perceived as cumbersome, hierarchical, and a source of inequality and discrimination—can improve their situation.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2025
Each transition creates a risk of leaving a 401(k) behind, especially when workers are unaware of their options or deterred by cumbersome rollover processes.
—Brian Menickella, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cumbersome
Cite this Entry
“Cumbersome.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cumbersome. Accessed 26 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cumbersome
adjective
cum·ber·some
ˈkəm-bər-səm
: hard to handle or manage because of size or weight
cumbersomely
adverb
cumbersomeness
noun
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