Word
unmanageable
Phoneticsun·man·age·able
US/ənˈmænɪdʒəbəɫ/
UK/ʌnmˈænɪdʒəbəl/
Definition
adj. too big, difficult, or wild for you to control or handle. You use it when something keeps growing or getting worse and you cannot keep it under control.
adj. difficult or impossible to control, handle, or keep within limits. Often modified by degree adverbs such as 'almost' or 'completely', and frequently describes situations, behaviour, or quantities that exceed available resources.
Examples
“The weeds in the garden become unmanageable every summer.”
“After the storm, the workload at the shelter becomes unmanageable with only three volunteers on duty.”
“What began as a small debt grew into an unmanageable burden that shaped every choice the family made for a decade.”
Examples
simple
“The weeds in the garden become unmanageable every summer.”
contextual
“After the storm, the workload at the shelter becomes unmanageable with only three volunteers on duty.”
complex
“What began as a small debt grew into an unmanageable burden that shaped every choice the family made for a decade.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “unmanageable” in context.
Verb
01. become unmanageable
“The crowd quickly became unmanageable after the gates were closed.”
verb + adj
02. find unmanageable
“Many teachers find large class sizes completely unmanageable.”
verb + adj
03. prove unmanageable
“The new software proved unmanageable for the older computers.”
verb + adj
04. render unmanageable
“The sheer volume of data rendered the project unmanageable.”
verb + adj
Adjective
05. increasingly unmanageable
“The debt levels are becoming increasingly unmanageable for the small firm.”
adv + adj
06. virtually unmanageable
“The workload has become virtually unmanageable since the staff cuts.”
adv + adj
Noun
07. unmanageable debt
“The country is struggling to pay off its unmanageable debt.”
adj + noun
08. unmanageable workload
“Employees complained about an unmanageable workload and long hours.”
adj + noun
09. deemed to be unmanageable
“The risks associated with the merger were deemed to be unmanageable.”
10. grow to unmanageable proportions
“The local conflict has grown to unmanageable proportions.”
Usage
Often follows linking verbs such as 'become' or 'prove'; also used before nouns to describe behaviour, hair, workloads, or debt.
Real-World Examples
“The summer holiday situation is becoming unmanageable for parents, with mothers often feeling the greatest impact,” “It has been clear from the outset that the level of additional workload the new GCSEs has placed on schools is totally unmanageable,” “The 35-year-old remarked that selling his two-bedroom flat was his only viable option, as the fees became unmanageable and he desired to sever ties with the management company due to its unsatisfactory service.” “Staff said workloads felt unmanageable and there was concern over how some people failed to wear PPE.” Etymology
From un- + manageable.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
ADJECTIVE
- 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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