cumbersome

adjective

ˈkəm-bər-səm How to pronounce cumbersome (audio)
Definition of cumbersomenext
as in clumsy
difficult to use or operate especially because of size, weight, or design a long-handled wrench that is too cumbersome for tight spots, such as under the sink

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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How does the adjective cumbersome differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of cumbersome are cumbrous, heavy, ponderous, and weighty. While all these words mean "having great weight," cumbrous and cumbersome imply heaviness and bulkiness that make for difficulty in grasping, moving, carrying, or manipulating.

wrestled with the cumbrous furniture
early cameras were cumbersome and inconvenient

Where would heavy be a reasonable alternative to cumbersome?

While in some cases nearly identical to cumbersome, heavy implies that something has greater density or thickness than the average of its kind or class.

a heavy child for his age

When can ponderous be used instead of cumbersome?

The words ponderous and cumbersome can be used in similar contexts, but ponderous implies having great weight because of size and massiveness with resulting great inertia.

ponderous elephants in a circus parade

When might weighty be a better fit than cumbersome?

In some situations, the words weighty and cumbersome are roughly equivalent. However, weighty suggests having actual and not just relative weight.

a load of weighty boxes

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of cumbersome Others said the new regulations could create longer lines and a more cumbersome retail experience, driving exasperated customers to shop in other cities. —Claire Wang, Oc Register, 22 Jan. 2026 Don’t buy a longer cable than necessary, as this can become cumbersome. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 21 Jan. 2026 Having cumbersome, highly prescriptive zoning rules that say that housing must go here and manufacturing there and retail there doesn’t make for a better city. —Bradley Tusk, New York Daily News, 18 Jan. 2026 Brighter than my Maglite, my Streamlight, and even brighter than my Stanley FATMAX spotlight (which is far more cumbersome than the Infinity X1). —New Atlas, 17 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cumbersome
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cumbersome
  1. clumsy
  2. awkward
  3. unwieldy
  4. clunky
Adjective
  • Isabel, sitting in a driving-range stall, is nearly hit with a ball when a clumsy golfer clangs it off a metal railing.
    — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 4 Feb. 2026
  • The results are often enervating though sometimes clumsy.
    — Eli Enis, Pitchfork, 3 Feb. 2026
Definition of clumsy
Adjective
  • The image became a meme, repeatedly used to portray Miliband as awkward.
    — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 10 Feb. 2026
  • The communication was straightforward and a bit awkward, sadly missing the mentions of Nancy Guthrie’s humanity that had peppered the family’s first video.
    — Assistant Editor, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Definition of awkward
Adjective
  • One proposal for adapting the Winter Games to a warmer world is to merge the Olympics and Paralympics, although this could make the event unwieldy.
    — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 10 Feb. 2026
  • The two leaders were former allies who later became embroiled in bruising political disputes, deepening divisions in one of Asia's most unwieldy democracies.
    — JIM GOMEZ THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, Arkansas Online, 5 Feb. 2026
Definition of unwieldy
Adjective
  • Supportive no longer means clunky.
    — Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2026
  • Where the film falters is in its plodding rhythm and clunky dialogue, much of which is delivered too flatly by actors who don’t exactly steal their scenes.
    — Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 4 Feb. 2026
Definition of clunky

Browse Nearby Words

cumbers
cumbersome
cumbersomeness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cumbersome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cumbersome. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on cumbersome

Nglish: Translation of cumbersome for Spanish Speakers

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