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
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Recent Examples of cumbersome
Later devices for the gaming world have still tended to be relatively cumbersome and not easily integrated into wearable VR systems.
—
Shirl Leigh
march 31, New Atlas, 31 Mar. 2026
But Thune has been slow to embrace the process, in part because it is viewed as so cumbersome.
—David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 28 Mar. 2026
Certain menu items, though, feel like fan favorites made to wear cumbersome disguises, while entrees outside of the burger don’t always feel as essential as the smaller plates.
—Cesar Hernandez, San Francisco Chronicle, 27 Mar. 2026
As your child grows, the five-point harness, although very safe for young children, can be cumbersome, uncomfortable and unnecessary for bigger kids.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cumbersome
Shirl Leigh
march 31, New Atlas, 31 Mar. 2026
But Thune has been slow to embrace the process, in part because it is viewed as so cumbersome.
—David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 28 Mar. 2026
Certain menu items, though, feel like fan favorites made to wear cumbersome disguises, while entrees outside of the burger don’t always feel as essential as the smaller plates.
—Cesar Hernandez, San Francisco Chronicle, 27 Mar. 2026
As your child grows, the five-point harness, although very safe for young children, can be cumbersome, uncomfortable and unnecessary for bigger kids.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cumbersome
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cumbersome
Adjective
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Even young Oklahoma City required a clumsy postseason audition.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
5 Apr. 2026
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The driver and his accomplice then mounted a clumsy getaway that resulted in their scooter crashing about three blocks from the scene, cops said.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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So Pakistan is already in an awkward position because the Saudis are being attacked.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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Lock down the logistics first The fastest way to kill trip momentum is skipping the awkward conversations.—
Lauren Schuster,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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For the present, we’re saddled with the unwieldy dilemma of there being eight major Democratic candidates and just two Republicans.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Mar. 2026
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Rising debt levels are increasingly becoming unwieldy, particularly for lower-incomes Americans.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Correspondence was at the very least clunky, and at most, reckless.—
Rachyl Jones,
semafor.com,
27 Mar. 2026
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If a process feels clunky, those advance preparations could give you time to come up with a new way of doing things that works better for everyone.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cumbersome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cumbersome. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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