unwieldy

Unwieldy is an adjective used to describe something difficult to carry, handle, or operate because of its size, weight, shape, or complexity. A heavy, awkward instrument can be unwieldy to use; a large piece of furniture may be unwieldy to move. The term also applies to systems, processes, or ideas that are hard to manage or implement. In such figurative uses, unwieldy often signals that simplification or reorganization would improve efficiency, clarity, or control.

Etymology: Unwieldy combines the prefix un- with wieldy, meaning able to be wielded or controlled. The word has its roots in Old and Middle English forms of the verb wield, to hold or manage. The sense of being hard to handle is established by the late medieval period and remains common in modern usage.

Usage notes: Unwieldy typically refers to objects or systems rather than people. Synonyms include cumbersome, bulky, ponderous, and clumsy; antonyms include manageable, light, agile, and streamlined. Example: "The unwieldy cabinet was difficult to install in the narrow hallway." "The budget process has become an unwieldy bureaucracy." The adverb form is unwieldily, used to describe how something is done, or one may say "in an unwieldy manner."