unwieldy

English

Alternative forms

  • unwieldly (less common, possibly nonstandard)

Etymology

From Middle English unweldi, equivalent to un- + wieldy. Cognate with Middle Low German unweldich (unwieldy).

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˌʌnˈwɪəl.di/
  • (file)

Adjective

unwieldy (comparative unwieldier, superlative unwieldiest)

  1. (obsolete) Lacking strength; weak.
  2. (obsolete) Ungraceful in movement.
  3. Difficult to carry, handle, manage or operate because of its size, weight, shape or complexity.
    • 2017 February 9, Rob Long, “Why I won’t invest in anything that involves effort”, in The National (UAE):
      Recorded music came in unwieldy packages and odd shapes.
  4. Badly managed or operated.
    (Can we add an example for this sense?)

Derived terms

Translations

References

  • unwieldy” in Douglas Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary, 2001–2019.
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