unmanageable

adjective

un·​man·​age·​able ˌən-ˈma-ni-jə-bəl 

: not manageable : difficult or impossible to control or manage

unmanageable hair

an almost unmanageable amount of data

The prisoner became unmanageable.

an unmanageable temper

an unmanageable number of students for one teacher

an unmanageable amount of debt

unmanageability

ˌən-ˌma-ni-jə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

unmanageably

ˌən-ˈma-ni-jə-blē 

adverb

an unmanageably large amount of data

Synonyms

• froward
• headstrong
• incontrollable
• intractable
• recalcitrant
• refractory
• uncontrollable
• ungovernable
• unruly
• untoward
• wayward
• willful
• wilful

Examples of unmanageable in a Sentence

an unmanageable dog who had to be returned to the pound

Recent Examples on the Web

One in three Americans report carrying unmanageable levels of debt in 2024, according to a recent study from the Financial Health Network. —Sacramento Bee, 26 Feb. 2025

Without this foundation, systems and processes will fail—and the resulting manual, frustrating work will become unmanageable. —Rana Robillard, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025

Tonight, a key colleague is absent, and the job facing Floria goes from challenging to unmanageable. —Guy Lodge, Variety, 17 Feb. 2025

Scalpers are a big problem making the concert-going experience worse — but at the root of the chaos is unmanageable, roof-shattering demand that has warped beyond recognition what people are willing to pay for a show. —Whizy Kim, Vox, 12 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1616, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unmanageable

• manageable