cumbersome
/ˈkʌmbəsəm/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkʌmbərsəm/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkəm-bər-səm/ (ame, mw)
cumbersome — adjective
- cumbersomepositive
- more cumbersomecomparative
- most cumbersomesuperlative
1. Something that is cumbersome is difficult to carry, move, or manage because it i
Something that is cumbersome is difficult to carry, move, or manage because it is physically very big or heavy, or because it involves lengthy or complicated steps.
The old wooden wardrobe was so cumbersome that three movers could barely lift it.
collocation: cumbersome + concrete noun (wardrobe, equipment)
The visa application process became too cumbersome, so Ananya hired an agent to help.
abstract sense: cumbersome + system / process / procedure
Diego struggled to carry the cumbersome guitar case through the narrow train doors.
Kampala's cumbersome tax-filing system forced Kwame to spend three full days on paperwork.
The firefighters' cumbersome protective gear made every movement slow and exhausting.
- unwieldy
Focuses on the object being hard to control or steer due to size or shape; more common for physical objects than for processes.
- awkward
Broader term covering physical difficulty as well as social embarrassment; often less intense than 'cumbersome'.
- burdensome
More formal; emphasizes the mental or emotional effort required, often used for duties or responsibilities rather than physical objects.
- clunky
Informal, often used for outdated technology, software, or design that is slow or poorly made.
- manageable
Easy to handle, control, or deal with.
- handy
Conveniently small or light; practical to carry and use.
- streamlined
Of a system or process: efficient, simple, and fast.
文法句型
cumbersome + noun (attributive)
be + cumbersome (predicative)
be + cumbersome + to-infinitive
用法筆記
Common with nouns describing physical objects (furniture, equipment, luggage, protective gear) as well as abstract nouns describing procedures (system, process, regulations, application). The physical and procedural senses are equally frequent in everyday English.