1. difficult to handle or use especially because of size or weight (Freq. 2) - a cumbersome piece of machinery - cumbrous protective clothing • Syn: cumbrous • Similar to: unwieldy, unmanageable • Derivationally related forms: cumbersomeness 2. not elegant or graceful in expression - an awkward prose style - a clumsy apology - his cumbersome writing style - if the rumor is true, can anything be more inept than to repeat it now? • Syn: awkward, clumsy, inapt, inept, ill-chosen • Similar to: infelicitous • Derivationally related forms: ineptness (for: inept), inaptness (for: inapt), clumsiness (for: clumsy), awkwardness (for: awkward)
