Word
unwieldy
Phoneticsun·wieldy
US/ənˈwiɫdi/
UK/ʌnwˈiːldi/
Definitions
01physically awkward
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. difficult to move or carry because of its size, shape, or weight.
adj. difficult to carry or handle physically due to an awkward shape, excessive size, or weight.
“The delivery driver struggled to carry the unwieldy mattress up the narrow stairs.”
“The antique wardrobe proved so unwieldy that the movers had to dismantle the banister just to get it into the bedroom.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02difficult to manage
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. describes a system or group that is too big or complicated to work well.
adj. describes an organisation, system, or process that is inefficient or difficult to control due to its scale or complexity.
“The company became too unwieldy after buying ten smaller businesses in one year.”
“The local council's unwieldy bureaucracy meant that even simple planning applications took months to process.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“Their house was rarely cleaned, with toys strewn on the floor, dirty dishes stacked up in the kitchen, laundry mingling in unwieldy piles.” “The US supreme court recently blocked the administration’s proposed changes to vote-by-mail, including an unwieldy mandate for states to submit lists of approved voters for mail ballots to the US postal service.” Etymology
From Middle English unweldy, equivalent to un- + wieldy. Cognate with Old Frisian unweldich, unweldech (“having no power, involuntary”), Middle Dutch onweldich (“having no control or mastery over”), Middle Low German unweldich (“unwieldy”). Compare also Old High German unwaltīg (“powerless”), whence Middle High German unwaltic, German ungewaltig (“powerless, unmighty”).
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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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