Unwieldily

Part of speech: adverb

Definitions

1. Characterized by an inability to be easily handled or maneuvered because of its size or shape; cumbersome and clumsy in operation or movement, causing difficulty in control; unwieldy in nature, presenting challenges in effective manipulation and efficiency
2. Hard to manage or control because of awkward size or form
3. Not easily handled or moved owing to bulk or shape

Etymology: "Unwieldily" is an adverb built from the adjective "unwieldy" plus the suffix "-ly," which turns an adjective into a description of manner: to do something unwieldily is to do it in an unwieldy way. The prefix "un-" simply negates the adjective, so the root idea is of something that cannot be easily wielded, or handled. The adjective itself is the older and more interesting part. "Unwieldy" comes from "wieldy," an earlier word meaning manageable or easy to handle, which in turn derives from "wield" in its old sense of being active or governing. Because "wieldy" was the positive form, the negative "unwieldy" was formed from it, and "unwieldily" follows the same path, so the adverb carries the same physical sense of handling as its root.

Synonyms: awkwardly, clumsily, bulky, cumbersomely, difficultly

Antonyms: gracefully, easily, smoothly, lightly, agilely