How to Use cumbersome in a Sentence

cumbersome

adjective
  • The application process is cumbersome and time-consuming.
  • Her expanded job title is really cumbersome.
  • The thing wasn’t heavy so much as cumbersome.
    — David Sedaris, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026
  • But some of them—strollers and car seats—are bulky and cumbersome.
    — Noah Kaufman, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Dec. 2019
  • My limbs felt stiff and cumbersome.
    — Literary Hub, 18 Feb. 2026
  • The idea was too cumbersome for something that had to be very sharp.
    — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 12 Feb. 2025
  • But there is no doubt that this election process is cumbersome.
    — Lynn Horsley, kansascity.com, 12 June 2017
  • All your apps are either too slow or too cumbersome to whip open in a pinch.
    — Boone Ashworth, WIRED, 3 May 2024
  • But installing the wires is cumbersome and prone to wear and tear.
    — Ni Tao, Interesting Engineering, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Plus, cages can be more cumbersome to store over the winter than stakes.
    — Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 May 2025
  • These methods work for a coin or two, but would be cumbersome for large deals.
    — Dave Birnbaum, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
  • Plus, cages can be more cumbersome to store over the winter than stakes.
    — Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 May 2026
  • Some brands are trying to change that, but the process has been slow and cumbersome.
    — Corey Buhay, Outside, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Frette linen bathrobes were soft, not overly cumbersome like most robes tend to be.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 June 2026
  • Big, cumbersome, and greasy, baking sheets can be a pain to clean and dry off.
    — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 30 June 2025
  • Big, cumbersome, and greasy, baking sheets can be a pain to clean and dry off.
    — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 16 Aug. 2024
  • Big, cumbersome, and greasy, baking sheets can be a pain to clean and dry off.
    — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Big, cumbersome, and greasy, baking sheets can be a pain to clean and dry off.
    — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 30 Dec. 2025
  • Big, cumbersome, and greasy, baking sheets can be a pain to clean and dry off.
    — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 21 Sep. 2025
  • That had to have been one of the most cumbersome costumes yet, with the back end on wheels.
    — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 5 Feb. 2020
  • Still, the process of lethal removal is cumbersome.
    — Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2026
  • The barbell hip thrust can be a little more cumbersome to set up.
    — Tiffany Ayuda, SELF, 8 Aug. 2022
  • Lugging around skis and boots is cumbersome.
    — Evie Carrick, Outside, 16 Nov. 2025
  • Make sure the item is sturdy enough to write on and not too cumbersome to carry all day.
    — Eve Chen, USA TODAY, 27 July 2023
  • That meant abandoning the cumbersome long skirts of the day and putting on pants.
    — Claudine Doury, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Oct. 2020
  • Democrats have said this option is cumbersome and would lead to long debates.
    — Michael Collins, USA TODAY, 7 Oct. 2021
  • While quite versatile, all of the parts can be cumbersome to store.
    — Good Housekeeping, 13 July 2023
  • The phone screen is so small that you're pushed to use the clamshell tablet all the time, and that is slow and cumbersome.
    — Ron Amadeo, Ars Technica, 24 Jan. 2020
  • Instead of cumbersome stakes and poles, the tent obtains its shape with just air.
    — Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 22 June 2026
  • Plus, the slim design doesn’t add bulk or feel cumbersome to carry around all day.
    — Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 24 June 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cumbersome.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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