as in clumsy
difficult to use or operate especially because of size, weight, or design
a long-handled wrench that is too cumbersome for tight spots, such as under the sink
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cumbersome
Bringing classic cars to modern smog standards is costly, cumbersome and has driven a lot of the car-restoration industry to other states.
—
The Editorial Board, Orange County Register, 16 Mar. 2025
Finding fuel was a bit cumbersome and confusing but not so bad at first, Yap said.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacramento Bee, 13 Mar. 2025
Eliminating the department altogether would be a cumbersome task, which likely would require an act of Congress.
—Annie Ma and Collin Binkley, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2025
The team concluded that based on the spinal column, the combination of a great white build with the megalodon's much longer length would have simply proved too cumbersome.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cumbersome
The Editorial Board, Orange County Register, 16 Mar. 2025
Finding fuel was a bit cumbersome and confusing but not so bad at first, Yap said.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacramento Bee, 13 Mar. 2025
Eliminating the department altogether would be a cumbersome task, which likely would require an act of Congress.
—Annie Ma and Collin Binkley, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2025
The team concluded that based on the spinal column, the combination of a great white build with the megalodon's much longer length would have simply proved too cumbersome.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cumbersome
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cumbersome
Adjective
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Raw also advertised Bayley challenging Lyra Valkyria for the WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship, Penta vs. Dominik Mysterio and the world’s most clumsy GM Adam Pearce making his next fumble of the worst storyline going this WrestleMania season between Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair and Iyo Sky.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
7 Apr. 2025
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This is why the Trump administration’s DOGE exercise — while clumsy at times — is such an important endeavor despite Democratic efforts to discredit it.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Sisterhood in sports can come with awkward moments, though.—
Evan Drellich,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2025
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In fact, the timing of the 11th annual event in Santa Monica made for some awkward — even, some would say, problematic — optics and messaging for these celebrities.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Providing succulents with too much fertilizer can cause these plants to grow too quickly and develop unwieldy stems that are prone to breaking. 6.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Feb. 2025
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The New York Yankees injury list is reaching unwieldy levels.—
Russel Honoré,
Newsweek,
6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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This leads to some clunky navigation when moving between menus.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
31 Mar. 2025
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And because enterprise platforms such as email and Teams seem clunky in comparison.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes,
25 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cumbersome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cumbersome. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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