cumbersome

IPA

Dictionary definition of cumbersome

Heavy, awkward or difficult to use or handle, often because of its size or complexity.
"The website was cumbersome and difficult to navigate."

Detailed meaning of cumbersome

It can be used to describe a wide range of things, including objects, procedures or tasks. For example, a cumbersome piece of equipment, a cumbersome process, or a cumbersome task. It can also be used to describe a feeling of being encumbered or burdened by something.
The term implies a sense of difficulty or inefficiency, and suggests that the person, thing or situation described as cumbersome is hard to handle, move or operate. It implies a sense of clumsiness or inefficiency.
It is important to note that cumbersome can also imply a sense of excess or unnecessary weight, as something may be considered cumbersome because it is too large, too complex or too heavy for its purpose or function.

Example sentences containing cumbersome

1. The equipment was cumbersome and difficult to transport.
2. The process was cumbersome and time-consuming.
3. The paperwork was cumbersome and required a lot of attention to detail.
4. The device was cumbersome and not user-friendly.
5. The regulations were cumbersome and hindered business growth.
6. The suit was cumbersome and made it hard for him to move around.

History and etymology of cumbersome

The adjective 'cumbersome' has its etymology rooted in the Middle English word 'cumber,' which meant 'to hamper' or 'to hinder.' It can be traced further back to Old English and Old Norse origins. The suffix '-some' is commonly used in English to form adjectives that denote possessing a particular quality. Therefore, 'cumbersome' etymologically signifies something that is 'full of hindrance' or 'burdened with difficulty.' In its modern usage, 'cumbersome' describes objects or processes that are heavy, awkward, or challenging to use or handle, often due to their size or complexity. The etymology of 'cumbersome' reflects the idea of something being encumbered or weighed down, emphasizing the difficulty and inconvenience associated with such objects or tasks.

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Further usage examples of cumbersome

1. The software was cumbersome and hard to learn.
2. The procedure was cumbersome and required a lot of steps to complete.
3. The process of filling out the form was cumbersome and confusing.
4. The task was cumbersome and required a lot of effort.
5. The system was cumbersome and in need of an upgrade.
6. The cumbersome suitcase, packed to the brim, strained his back.
7. The process was slow and cumbersome, causing delays.
8. The old computer, with its outdated software, was a cumbersome relic.
9. The paperwork, piled high on her desk, was a daunting and cumbersome task.
10. The legislation's language, riddled with legal jargon, was cumbersome to decipher.
11. The machinery, a hulking mass of metal, was large and cumbersome.
12. The project's complexity, with its intricate details, made it cumbersome to manage.
13. Navigating the convoluted legal system can be cumbersome and time-consuming.
14. The device's interface, with its confusing menus, was cumbersome and unintuitive.
15. The new regulations, laden with bureaucratic procedures, added a cumbersome layer of red tape.
16. The manual, with its technical diagrams and lengthy explanations, was cumbersome to read.
17. The cumbersome backpack, filled with books, weighed him down during the hike.
18. The furniture, old and massive, was cumbersome to rearrange.
19. The software's installation process, requiring multiple steps, was cumbersome for beginners.
20. The old system, with its outdated technology, was cumbersome and inefficient.
21. The cumbersome process of data entry significantly delayed the project.
22. The equipment, massive and intricate, was cumbersome and required a trained operator.
23. The project's sheer size and scope made it cumbersome to coordinate.
24. The document's excessive length and fine print made it cumbersome to review.
25. The form, with its many fields and checkboxes, was cumbersome to fill out completely.