cumbersome

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. adjective difficult to handle or use especially because of size or weight
  2. adjective not elegant or graceful in expression

Etymology

From Middle English cumbyrsum, cummyrsum; equivalent to cumber (“hindrance”) + -some. Compare encumber and incumbent.

In classic literature

Synonyms

cumbrous

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