Word
cumbersome
Phoneticscum·ber·some, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkəmbɝsəm/
UK/kˈʌmbəsˌʌm/
Definition
adj. heavy or difficult to carry or use because of its size or weight. It can also describe a process that is slow and complicated.
adj. large, heavy, or awkwardly shaped, making it difficult to handle or manage. Often describes physical objects or abstract systems that are inefficient and slow.
Examples
“The old printer is too cumbersome to move by myself.”
“The new software was supposed to help, but the login process is so cumbersome that nobody uses it.”
“While the ancient armor provided excellent protection, its cumbersome weight made it nearly impossible for the soldiers to retreat quickly across the muddy battlefield.”
Examples
simple
“The old printer is too cumbersome to move by myself.”
contextual
“The new software was supposed to help, but the login process is so cumbersome that nobody uses it.”
complex
“While the ancient armor provided excellent protection, its cumbersome weight made it nearly impossible for the soldiers to retreat quickly across the muddy battlefield.”
Usage
Often used to describe physical objects, but frequently applied to abstract concepts like bureaucracy, legislation, or procedures.
Real-World Examples
“The top candidates to replace Infantino are freighted with cumbersome baggage.” “Even on the quickest timelines, like for Cuba in 2021 , it is a cumbersome process.” Etymology
From Middle English cumbyrsum, cummyrsum; equivalent to cumber (“hindrance”) + -some. Compare encumber and incumbent.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/cumbersome