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Added 9 October 2026

unwieldy

/ˌʌnˈwɪəl.di/ adjective

In Latin: inhabilis Wiktionary

adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about unwieldy at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Lacking strength; weak.
Ungraceful in movement.
Difficult to carry, handle, manage or operate because of its size, weight, shape or complexity.

Origin

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”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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