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unwieldy

un·wield·y
U u

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [uhn-weel-dee]
    • /ʌnˈwil di/
    • /ʌnˈwiːl.di/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [uhn-weel-dee]
    • /ʌnˈwil di/

Definitions of unwieldy word

  • adjective unwieldy not wieldy; wielded with difficulty; not readily handled or managed in use or action, as from size, shape, or weight; awkward; ungainly. 1
  • adjective unwieldy awkward, cumbersome 1
  • adjective unwieldy If you describe an object as unwieldy, you mean that it is difficult to move or carry because it is so big or heavy. 0
  • adjective unwieldy If you describe a system as unwieldy, you mean that it does not work very well as a result of it being too large or badly organized. 0
  • adjective unwieldy too heavy, large, or awkwardly shaped to be easily handled 0
  • adjective unwieldy ungainly; clumsy 0

Information block about the term

Origin of unwieldy

First appearance:

before 1350
One of the 20% oldest English words
First recorded in 1350-1400, unwieldy is from the Middle English word unweldy. See un-1, wieldy

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Unwieldy

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

unwieldy popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 91% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
This word is included in each student's vocabulary. Most likely there is at least one movie with this word in the title.

unwieldy usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for unwieldy

adj unwieldy

  • all thumbs — clumsy
  • awkward — An awkward situation is embarrassing and difficult to deal with.
  • bulky — Something that is bulky is large and heavy. Bulky things are often difficult to move or deal with.
  • butterfingered — a person who frequently drops things; clumsy person.
  • clodhopping — loutish; boorish.

adjective unwieldy

  • discommodious — Not commodious; uncomfortable.
  • encumbering — Present participle of encumber.
  • gross — without deductions; total, as the amount of sales, salary, profit, etc., before taking deductions for expenses, taxes, or the like (opposed to net2. ): gross earnings; gross sales.
  • lumpy — full of lumps: lumpy gravy.
  • weighted — having additional weight.

Antonyms for unwieldy

adjective unwieldy

  • aiding — to provide support for or relief to; help: to aid the homeless victims of the fire.
  • coordinated — well organized
  • manageable — that can be managed; governable; tractable; contrivable.
  • wieldy — readily wielded or managed, as in use or action.

Top questions with unwieldy

  • what does unwieldy mean?
  • what is the definition of unwieldy?
  • what is unwieldy?

See also

Matching words

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