cumbersome to handle

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cumbersome to handle" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is difficult or awkward to manage or deal with. Example: "The new software update has made the system cumbersome to handle, causing delays in our workflow."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

They had left untouched twenty-odd bags containing $29,000 in coin because they were too cumbersome to handle.

The New Yorker

For a reasonably design estimate of low-velocity impact behavior of a single lap joint, the nondimensional analysis presented is considerably less cumbersome to handle.

International Journal of Solids and Structures

Very little agricultural plastic has been recycled since it's cumbersome to handle, difficult to keep clean and has rarely met post-recycling market specifications, said Lois Levitan, director of Cornell's Recycling Agricultural Plastics Project (RAPP).

Cornell University

But they proved so cumbersome to handle compared to paper wraps--and trash cans filled up so quickly--that the containers never were used again, said spokesman Denny Lynch.

Los Angeles Times

For example, pharmaceutical codes (such as Universal Product Numbers in the United States or Japanese Article Numbers for pharmaceuticals in Japan) by product may be cumbersome to handle, and one may wish to categorize them into larger groups of pharmaceutically equivalent products (according to their generic name).

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Cloth diapers are more cumbersome to handle and as the plastic pants are in direct contact with the urine they need to either be reused after being dried off with paper towels or hand washed as a new pair is used.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Also, the flow cytometers currently available are relatively expensive, cumbersome (difficult to handle because of their size and weight), and need trained personnel.

Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry

To avoid the cumbersome remeshing process required to handle boundary shape changes, we employ the remesh-free shape optimization method based on the wavelet-Galerkin analysis.

Advances in Engineering Software

Other investments include E-Center in Krakow, which provides a home, hardware and technical support for Web site operators, and Interactive Medicine, an online service for dentists to handle cumbersome bookkeeping and to manage orders for drugs and equipment.

The New York Times

Green Lantern: Pure energy infrasound The Green Lantern can create quasi-solid shapes out of energy emitted from his power ring, enabling him to fabricate, say, an infrasound weapon too large and cumbersome for mere humans to handle.

TechCrunch

Some hospitals now have "navigators," staff members assigned solely to the uninsured to handle the cumbersome paperwork required for registering them.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing processes or systems, clarify what aspect makes it "cumbersome": Is it time-consuming, complicated, or resource-intensive?

Common error

Avoid using "cumbersome" as a generic term for anything negative. Instead, choose words that more accurately reflect the specific issue, such as "inefficient", "complicated", or "unwieldy".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cumbersome to handle" acts as an adjective phrase modifying a noun, describing the difficulty associated with managing or manipulating that noun. Ludwig AI confirms this phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "cumbersome to handle" effectively describes something difficult or awkward to manage. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is usable and correct. Although it's not extremely frequent, with only four exact examples found, it appears across various contexts like News & Media, Science, Academia and Wiki. For alternative phrasing, consider "difficult to manage" or "awkward to deal with" for similar meanings. Be mindful of overuse and specify what makes something "cumbersome" for clearer communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

inconvenient to handle

Replaces "cumbersome" with a synonym that implies causing trouble or difficulty.

difficult to manage

Focuses on the challenge of managing something rather than its physical awkwardness.

awkward to deal with

Shifts the focus to the interaction or process of dealing with something, emphasizing its clumsiness.

troublesome to handle

Emphasizes the problematic nature of handling something.

challenging to manipulate

Focuses on the complexity of manipulating or controlling the object.

hard to maneuver

Highlights the difficulty in moving or directing something.

unwieldy to operate

Focuses on the difficulty in operating or using something, often due to size or complexity.

bulky to transport

Specific to transportation, emphasizing the size and difficulty of moving something.

heavy to lift

Highlights the physical weight as the primary difficulty.

complex to process

Focuses on the intellectual challenge of handling information or data.

FAQs

What does "cumbersome to handle" mean?

The phrase "cumbersome to handle" means that something is difficult or awkward to manage, use, or move due to its size, complexity, or other characteristics.

What can I say instead of "cumbersome to handle"?

You can use alternatives like "difficult to manage", "awkward to deal with", or "inconvenient to handle" depending on the context.

Is "cumbersome to handle" formal or informal?

"Cumbersome to handle" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, more precise alternatives might be preferable in formal writing.

How can I use "cumbersome to handle" in a sentence?

You might say, "The old filing system is "cumbersome to handle", requiring hours to find a single document" or "The large dataset was "cumbersome to handle" without specialized software."