English Explanatory Dictionary

unwieldy

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Lacking strength; weak.
  2. Ungraceful in movement.
  3. Difficult to carry, handle, manage or operate because of its size, weight, shape or complexity.
  4. Badly managed or operated.

Pronunciation

/ˌʌnˈwɪəl.di/ en-us-unwieldy.ogg

Word forms

unwieldy more unwieldy unwieldier most unwieldy unwieldiest unwieldly

Etymology

From Middle English unweldy, equivalent to un- + wieldy. Cognate with Old Frisian unweldich, unweldech (“having no power, involuntary”), Middle Dutch onweldich (“having no control or mastery over”), Middle Low German unweldich (“unwieldy”). Compare also Old High German unwaltīg (“powerless”), whence Middle High German unwaltic, German ungewaltig (“powerless, unmighty”).

Synonyms

unmanageable unwieldsome

Antonyms

wieldy

Derived words

unwieldiness
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