Cumbersome: awkward to handle or use
Cumbersome means awkward to move, handle or use, often because of size or complexity. It is formed from cumber, meaning to burden or hinder, and the suffix -some. A wide, heavy parcel can be cumbersome on a staircase even when one person is strong enough to lift it.
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Difficulty caused by awkwardness
Cumbersome is an adjective for something burdensome or awkward to handle. It is formed from cumber, meaning to hinder or burden, with the adjective-forming suffix -some.
The word applies to physical objects and processes. A large parcel may be cumbersome because it blocks your view and is difficult to turn. A registration process may be cumbersome because it requires several repetitive steps.
- Cumbersome luggage is awkward to manage.
- A cumbersome procedure is difficult to work through.
Weight alone does not explain every use. A light but very wide frame can be cumbersome in a narrow corridor. For a process, identify the awkward feature, such as requiring the same information on three separate forms.