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Definition of cumbersome

cumbersome

/ˈkʌm.bər.səm/
cum · ber · some
Adverb:cumbersomely
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cumbersome Lexical Profile

cumbersome Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Large or heavy and therefore difficult to carry, handle, or use; unwieldy.

Example

"The antique oak wardrobe was too cumbersome for the two movers to carry up the narrow staircase."

2

Slow, complicated, and inefficient (especially of a system, procedure, or bureaucratic process).

Example

"Applicants complained that the university's financial aid process was overly cumbersome and time-consuming."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for cumbersome

• Nearby Words

cum
cumberland
cumberland falls
cumbersome
cumbersomely
cumbersomeness
cumin

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in Middle English from the verb 'cumber' (to hinder or burden, from Old French 'combrer', meaning to obstruct) and the suffix '-some'. The Old French root ultimately derives from Late Latin 'combrus', meaning a heap of felled trees or an obstruction.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Cumbersome. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/cumbersome
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