as in clumsy
difficult to use or operate especially because of size, weight, or design
an unwieldy machine that requires two people to operate it
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unwieldy
The organization has become so unwieldy that even its most well-meaning workers describe being caught in a culture of toxic inefficiency, hamstrung by problems of accountability, organization, and funding.
—
Amanda Chicago Lewis, Harpers Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025
But as evening hours set in, the upbeat tone stood at odds with the unwieldy scene at the Capitol.
—Joey Cappelletti, Chicago Tribune, 21 May 2025
There’s a lot of comedy in the unwieldy quadrilateral chest panel of Alex’s dress.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 6 May 2025
That’s precisely where Evans wreaks the most havoc, ignoring (or simply not understanding) what connects us to such characters in the first place — and therefore ensuring that his unwieldy Netflix vehicle is dead on arrival.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unwieldy
Amanda Chicago Lewis, Harpers Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025
But as evening hours set in, the upbeat tone stood at odds with the unwieldy scene at the Capitol.
—Joey Cappelletti, Chicago Tribune, 21 May 2025
There’s a lot of comedy in the unwieldy quadrilateral chest panel of Alex’s dress.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 6 May 2025
That’s precisely where Evans wreaks the most havoc, ignoring (or simply not understanding) what connects us to such characters in the first place — and therefore ensuring that his unwieldy Netflix vehicle is dead on arrival.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unwieldy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unwieldy
Adjective
-
The clumsy use of voice-overs is more embarrassing still.—
Charles McNulty,
Los Angeles Times,
6 June 2025
-
In the latest, a clumsy but charming young woman in Paris, struggling to become a writer and longing for Jane Austen-style romance, finally has her moment at a Jane Austen Writers’ Residency in England.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
25 May 2025
Adjective
-
From awkward silences to unresolved tensions, most of us would rather scroll, text, or disappear than risk a moment of raw, honest connection.—
Margie Warrell,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
-
The feelings of being sweaty, red-faced and kind of awkward is very familiar to me.—
Mark Olsen,
Los Angeles Times,
5 June 2025
Adjective
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Trying to clean behind heavy, cumbersome appliances is a different story.—
Quincy Bulin,
Southern Living,
3 June 2025
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During his first term, Trump frequently slammed environmental studies under NEPA as too cumbersome and time-consuming.—
CNN.com,
Mercury News,
29 May 2025
Adjective
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The resulting Cheetah was, frankly, an ungainly machine, more like an oversized four-wheel ATV than a Ford Bronco or Mercedes G-Wagen.—
Will Sabel Courtney,
Robb Report,
22 May 2025
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That dispute was patched over by an ungainly agreement, negotiated between the European Commission and the U.S. government.—
Henry Farrell,
Foreign Affairs,
3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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There are a few family members who only wear olive, mustard, khaki, black and other dull colors; clunky, unattractive shoes; and few accessories.—
Judith Martin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 June 2025
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One of the reasons that Ray-Ban and Meta have acheived some success is that the smart glasses, far from the clunky original iterations, have a stylish and familiar design and they are being sold across Ray-Ban’s stores network.—
Mark Faithfull,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unwieldy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unwieldy. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
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