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
Eve Chen, USA Today, 24 May 2025
To some extent, the Dardennes distract us from this listicle of issues with the skill of old hands used to making unwieldy narratives work.
—Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 23 May 2025
Several protesters were injured, some of them critically, by Flash-balls fired by riot police, or by cops sent out to quell demonstrations that were growing increasingly unwieldy.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2025
If the unbearable weight of massive talent is really so crazy-making, that unwieldy creativity should be set free, however messy.
—Charles Bramesco, IndieWire, 15 May 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 6 Jun. 2025.
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unwieldy
adjective
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