cumbersome

adjective

cum·ber·some | \ ˈkəm-bər-səm

Definition of cumbersome

1 : unwieldy because of heaviness and bulk a cumbersome package

2 : slow-moving : ponderous cumbersome administrative procedures

3 dialect : burdensome, troublesome

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Choose the Right Synonym for cumbersome

heavy, weighty, ponderous, cumbrous, cumbersome mean having great weight. heavy implies that something has greater density or thickness than the average of its kind or class. a heavy child for his age weighty suggests having actual and not just relative weight. a load of weighty boxes ponderous implies having great weight because of size and massiveness with resulting great inertia. ponderous elephants in a circus parade cumbrous and cumbersome imply heaviness and bulkiness that make for difficulty in grasping, moving, carrying, or manipulating. wrestled with the cumbrous furniture early cameras were cumbersome and inconvenient

Examples of cumbersome in a Sentence

Squad members, already decked out in cumbersome chemical suits, put on masks and rubber gloves. — Ray Wilkinson, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 1991 He got the approval of the higher-ups, but the course was scuttled by members of his own department, who devised all kinds of cumbersome, silly requirements and prerequisites. — Alice Munro, New Yorker, 20 Mar. 1989 He cut some segments of the 2" pine but discovered that … a cumbersome system of braces would be needed to hold the sides straight. — John Updike, Couples, 1968 The application process is cumbersome and time-consuming. Her expanded job title is really cumbersome.

Recent Examples on the Web

Many people found the old calculator to be a more than a bit cumbersome, but the new estimator is getting some good reviews. — Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, "Now, a new way to estimate next year's tax refund," 14 Aug. 2019 Proponents, who include car dealers and auto enthusiasts, argue the requirement is costly and cumbersome, especially considering that all the states that border Ohio require only a rear license plate. — Andrew J. Tobias, cleveland.com, "State lawmakers, police groups attempting rescue of Ohio’s front license plate requirement," 29 July 2019 In a wide-ranging interview, Widodo outlined his priorities for his second term, including continuing large-scale infrastructure projects and simplifying a cumbersome bureaucracy. — Washington Post, "AP Interview: Indonesia’s Widodo to push unpopular reforms," 27 July 2019 But these tools weren’t native to web design and as a result were cumbersome, bloated, and expensive. — Khe Hy, Quartz at Work, "Five “creator” apps that have captured Silicon Valley’s attention," 19 June 2019 But doing so is still cumbersome, time-intensive, and extraordinarily costly. — Nick Statt, The Verge, "Facebook’s Calibra is a secret weapon for monetizing its new cryptocurrency," 18 June 2019 Indeed, early photographers were seen more as inventors or pioneers of the cumbersome, mechanical process used to capture images in the late 19th century. — Suyin Haynes, Time, "This Robot Artist Just Became the First to Stage a Solo Exhibition. What Does That Say About Creativity?," 17 June 2019 These are very cool features, but getting to them can be a little cumbersome. — Dallas News, "Casio Pro Trek watch is tough and feature-packed," 8 Aug. 2019 In the specific context of the residential solar sector, small loans had the potential to boost the sector, provided the process was not cumbersome, and the rates of interest were attractive. — Tirthankar Mandal, Quartz India, "Cheaper loans could take solar power to more rooftops in India," 21 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cumbersome.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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More Definitions for cumbersome

cumbersome

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of cumbersome

: hard to handle or manage because of size or weight

: complicated and hard to do

: long and difficult to read, say, etc.

See the full definition for cumbersome in the English Language Learners Dictionary

cumbersome

adjective

cum·ber·some | \ ˈkəm-bər-səm

Kids Definition of cumbersome

: hard to handle or manage because of size or weight

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cumbersome

Definition of cumbersome

Other Words from cumbersome

Synonyms & Antonyms for cumbersome

Choose the Right Synonym for cumbersome

Examples of cumbersome in a Sentence

First Known Use of cumbersome

History and Etymology for cumbersome

English Language Learners Definition of cumbersome

Kids Definition of cumbersome

cumbersome

Definition of cumbersome

Other Words from cumbersome

Synonyms & Antonyms for cumbersome

Choose the Right Synonym for cumbersome

Examples of cumbersome in a Sentence

First Known Use of cumbersome

History and Etymology for cumbersome

English Language Learners Definition of cumbersome

Kids Definition of cumbersome

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