unwieldy
adjective
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The Difference Between Wieldy and Unwieldy
The verb to wield means "to handle or exert something effectively." A carpenter might wield a hammer with impressive dexterity, for example, or a talented orator might wield influence over an audience of listeners. Something that is "wieldy" is capable of being wielded easily, and while that adjective may not be particularly common, its antonym "unwieldy" finds ample use to describe anything that is awkward to handle, move, or manage. "Wield" and its relatives all derive via Middle English from Old English wieldan, meaning "to control."
Examples of unwieldy in a Sentence
Joey Cappelletti, Chicago Tribune, 21 May 2025
There’s a lot of comedy in the unwieldy quadrilateral chest panel of Alex’s dress.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 6 May 2025
That’s precisely where Evans wreaks the most havoc, ignoring (or simply not understanding) what connects us to such characters in the first place — and therefore ensuring that his unwieldy Netflix vehicle is dead on arrival.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 24 Apr. 2025
The value of a single, unwieldy enterprise may be greater than the sum of its parts.
—Jeannie Suk Gersen, New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unwieldy
Cite this Entry
“Unwieldy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unwieldy. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
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unwieldy
adjective
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