- too heavy, large, or awkwardly shaped to be easily handled
- ungainly; clumsy
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
un•wield•y /ʌnˈwildi/USA pronunciation
adj., -i•er, -i•est.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- used, handled, or managed with difficulty because of size, shape, weight, or complexity:an unwieldy load of scrap iron; an unwieldy bureaucracy.
un•wield•y
(un wēl′dē),USA pronunciation adj., -wield•i•er, -wield•i•est.
un•wield′i•ly, adv.
un•wield′i•ness, n.
- not wieldy;
wielded with difficulty;
not readily handled or managed in use or action, as from size, shape, or weight;
awkward;
ungainly.
- Middle English unweldy. See un-1, wieldy 1350–1400
un•wield′i•ness, n.
- bulky, unmanageable, clumsy.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
unwieldy /ʌnˈwiːldɪ/, unwieldly /ʌnˈwiːldlɪ/ adj
'unwieldy' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):