Cumbersome

/ˈkʌmbərsəm/

Meaning & Definition

adjective

Large or heavy and therefore difficult to carry or use; unwieldy.

The old, cumbersome furniture made it hard to rearrange the room.

Slow or complicated and therefore inefficient.

The cumbersome procedures at the office often led to delays in processing.

Burdensome or problematic.

Her cumbersome responsibilities as a manager left her with little free time.

Middle English, from the word 'cumber', which means to impede or obstruct.

cumbersome process

A procedure that is difficult and inefficient.

cumbersome equipment

Tools or devices that are bulky or difficult to handle.

cumbersome regulations

Rules or laws that are complex and overly detailed.

cumber

To obstruct or hinder.

encumber

To restrict or burden in a way that impairs or limits.

Anything that is overly complicated.

Trying to set up that old computer was such a cumbersome task!

A situation that feels heavy and slow.

This meeting is so cumbersome, I'm losing the will to stay awake.