Unwieldy (Adjective)
Meaning 1
Lacking grace in movement or posture; "a gawky lad with long ungainly legs"; "clumsy fingers"; "what an ungainly creature a giraffe is"; "heaved his unwieldy figure out of his chair".
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- The toddler's unwieldy body tumbled to the ground as she tried to take her first steps.
- Her unwieldy hair seemed to have a life of its own, sticking out in every direction.
- The gymnast's usually lithe body became unwieldy and clumsy as she struggled with the difficult routine.
- The giant bear lumbered through the forest, its unwieldy gait causing the trees to sway in its wake.
- After months of bed rest, the patient struggled to move her unwieldy limbs out of the bed and into her wheelchair.
Synonyms
Meaning 2
Difficult to work or manipulate; "unwieldy rules and regulations".
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- The large and unwieldy suitcase was a struggle to maneuver through the crowded airport.
- The company's unwieldy bureaucracy made it difficult to get anything done quickly.
- The unwieldy machinery required two people to operate it safely.
- The unwieldy format of the spreadsheet made it hard to find the information I needed.
- The government's unwieldy tax code was in desperate need of simplification.
Related Words
Meaning 3
Difficult to use or handle or manage because of size or weight or shape; "we set about towing the unwieldy structure into the shelter"; "almost dropped the unwieldy parcel".
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- The unwieldy luggage cart was difficult to maneuver through the crowded airport.
- The artist struggled to move the unwieldy sculpture into the gallery for the exhibition.
- The large, unwieldy bookshelf was a challenge to assemble and required extra support.
- The firefighters had to carefully navigate the unwieldy hose through the narrow alleyway.
- The unwieldy package was so large and heavy that it required two people to carry it.