cumbrous
Difficult to manage
Cumbrous means heavy, awkward, or difficult to manage—essentially the same as cumbersome, though more literary and less common.
The word describes things that impede movement or progress through their bulk or unwieldiness: cumbrous machinery, cumbrous bureaucratic procedures.
It appears mainly in older or deliberately formal writing.
Large and awkward to handle
- ungainlyLacking ease of movement
- unmanageableImpossible to control
- awkwardLacking grace or ease
- clumsyLacking physical coordination
lumbering · unhandy · inconvenient · difficult · impractical · troublesome · bothersome · unworkable
Awkwardly heavy or slow
- weightyHeavy or significant
- heftyConsiderable in weight
- massiveExtremely large and heavy
- leadenOppressively heavy or dull
substantial · dense · solid · burdensome · oppressive · crushing · gravitating · pressing
Lacking grace or refinement
- gracelessLacking smoothness or charm
- ungainlyLacking ease of movement
- awkwardLacking grace or ease
- stiffNot easily bent
lumbering · maladroit · gawky · ungraceful · plodding · labored · blundering · ham-fisted
Involving excessive difficulty
- taxingRequiring great effort
- demandingRequiring great effort
- arduousDemanding strenuous effort
- laboriousRequiring considerable effort
toilsome · grueling · exhausting · wearying · oppressive · overwhelming · strenuous · trying
Creating obstacles to progress
- impedingBlocking forward motion
- hamperingInterfering with progress
- obstructingBlocking forward movement
- blockingImpeding forward progress
restrictive · constraining · inhibiting · impediment · obstacle · hindrance · barrier · stumbling-block
bulky
Large and awkward to handle
- ungainlyLacking ease of movement
- unmanageableImpossible to control
- awkwardLacking grace or ease
clumsy · lumbering · unhandy · inconvenient · difficult · impractical · troublesome · bothersome · unworkable · impracticable
ponderous
Awkwardly heavy or slow
leaden · substantial · dense · solid · burdensome · oppressive · crushing · gravitating · pressing · loaded
inelegant
Lacking grace or refinement
stiff · lumbering · maladroit · gawky · ungraceful · plodding · labored · blundering · ham-fisted · heavy-handed
onerous
Involving excessive difficulty
laborious · toilsome · grueling · exhausting · wearying · oppressive · overwhelming · strenuous · trying · difficult
hindering
Creating obstacles to progress
- impedingBlocking forward motion
- hamperingInterfering with progress
- obstructingBlocking forward movement
blocking · restrictive · constraining · inhibiting · impediment · obstacle · hindrance · barrier · stumbling-block · bottleneck
cumbroushandy
Useful and nearby
wieldy · manageable · portable · lightweight · compact
cumbrouspractical
Suited for real use
functional · efficient · serviceable · useful · practicable
incumbent, succumb, cumbersome, encumber, encumbrance, recumbent, succumbing, incumbency, unencumbered