# unmanageable

**Pronunciation:** /ʌnˈmænɪdʒəbl/ · un-MAN-i-juh-bull

**CEFR level:** B1

**Part of speech:** adjective

## Meaning

Impossible or very difficult to control, manage, or handle.

## Examples

- The company's debt had become unmanageable.
- His unruly hair was unmanageable in the humidity.
- The sheer volume of data was unmanageable for the old system.

## Synonyms

- difficult — General term for something hard to do or deal with.
- uncontrollable — Emphasizes the lack of ability to direct or restrain.
- unwieldy — Suggests something is too large, heavy, or complex to handle easily.
- intractable — Implies stubbornness and resistance to management or solution.

## Antonyms

- manageable — Able to be controlled or handled effectively.
- controllable — Can be directed, regulated, or restrained.

## Common patterns

- unmanageable for — Describes something that is too difficult for a specific person or system to handle. — The project was unmanageable for the small team.
- unmanageable with — Indicates the lack of resources or tools to manage something. — The wildfire was unmanageable with the available equipment.

## Collocations

- become unmanageable — The situation quickly became unmanageable.
- largely unmanageable — His wild behavior was largely unmanageable.
- virtually unmanageable — The sheer volume of paperwork was virtually unmanageable.

Canonical URL: https://anaversity.com/dictionary/english/unmanageable

[Browse the English learner dictionary](https://anaversity.com/dictionary/english)
