English vocabulary · C1
Unwieldy
/ʌnˈwiːl.di/ · adj.
An unwieldy thing is hard to carry or use because of its size, weight, or shape. It is so hard to hold and move where you want.
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Example sentences
- The unwieldy box blocked the door.
- We dropped the unwieldy couch.
Word origin and roots
from Old English
- un — not (from Old English)
- wield — handle (from Old English)
Synonyms and nuances
- CUMBERSOME — difficult to carry (Hard To Move)
- BULKY — large and thick (Takes Much Space)
- AWKWARD — difficult to manage (Hard To Handle)
Words with the same root
wield — handle
- wield — hold and use
Lesson notes
An unwieldy thing is hard to carry or use because of its size, weight, or shape. It is so hard to hold and move where you want.
Related: cumbersome, bulky, awkward. Use unwieldy when size makes use hard.
The unwieldy box blocked the door. We dropped the unwieldy couch.
From Old English. Un- means not. Wield- means handle. Not easy to handle, the unwieldy box blocks the door.