cumbersome
Say it: KUM-buh-sum /ˈkʌmbɚsəm/ · adjective
What “cumbersome” means
Awkward or difficult to carry, use or manage.
More precisely: Large, heavy or complicated and therefore hard to use.
Example: “The old booking system was so cumbersome that customers just phoned instead.”
When to use it
Use it critically in everyday or workplace conversation for bulky objects or complicated processes that make a simple task difficult.
Similar words
unwieldy, clunky, awkward
Quick check
Your enormous suitcase is heavy, catches on doorways and is hard to steer along the pavement. How would you describe it?
cumbersome or compact?
Show the answer
cumbersome
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