Unwieldy

Difficult to carry, handle, or manage because of size, weight, shape, or complexity. 'Unwieldy' often implies a lack of manageability due to physical dimensions, but can also refer to complex systems or abstract concepts that are difficult to understand or control. The word emphasizes the awkwardness and potential for things to go wrong due to the difficulty in manipulation or comprehension. It can refer to physical objects, data sets, bureaucratic processes or complicated topics, suggesting a degree of frustration or inefficiency in its interaction. The difficulty comes from physical or mental space.

Unwieldy meaning with examples

• The antique wardrobe, unwieldy due to its sheer size and weight, proved nearly impossible to move up the narrow staircase, requiring several people to lift it carefully.
• The company's filing system had become so unwieldy over the years that employees spent more time searching for documents than actually working on their projects.
• The new software program, despite its advanced features, was criticized for being unwieldy and difficult to learn, hindering productivity rather than improving it.
• The negotiator struggled with the unwieldy international treaty, a complex document filled with convoluted clauses and conflicting interests of the multiple nations involved.