unwieldy.

Difficult to move, use, or manage because of size, shape, complexity, or poor organization.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• an unwieldy object
• an unwieldy system

On the page

The unwieldy crate caught against both sides of the narrow stairwell.

An unwieldy system of approvals delayed even the simplest repair.

Usage notes

Primary category: literary. Forms: unwieldy; comparative unwieldier; superlative unwieldiest. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings.