different between unwieldy vs massive

English

Alternative forms

• unwieldly (less common, possibly nonstandard)

Etymology

From Middle English unweldi, equivalent to un- +? wieldy. Cognate with Middle Low German unweldich (“unwieldy”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /??n?w??l.di/

Adjective

unwieldy (comparative unwieldier, superlative unwieldiest)

1. (obsolete) Lacking strength; weak.
2. (obsolete) Ungraceful in movement.
3. Difficult to carry, handle, manage or operate because of its size, weight, shape or complexity.
4. Badly managed or operated.

   (Can we add an example for this sense?)

Derived terms

• unwieldiness

Translations

References

• Douglas Harper (2001–2021) , “unwieldy”, in Online Etymology Dictionary

English

Etymology

From Middle English massif, from Middle French massif. The Irish sense is possibly derived from Irish mas (“fine, handsome”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?mæs.?v/
• Rhymes: -æs?v

Adjective

massive (comparative more massive, superlative most massive)

1. Very large in size or extent
2. Very large or bulky and heavy and solid
3. (informal) To a very great extent; total, utter.
   • 2007, Christine Conrad, Mademoiselle Benoir (page 171)

     Notwithstanding Catherine's assurances, I was apprehensive about meeting Denys, worried that I would come off as a massive idiot […]

4. (colloquial) Of particularly exceptional quality or value; awesome.
5. (colloquial, informal, Ireland) outstanding, beautiful

   Your dress is massive, love. Where did you get it?

6. (medicine) Affecting a large portion of the body, or severe.

7. (physics) Having a large mass
8. (physics, of a particle) Possessing mass.

9. (geology) Homogenous, unstructured
   1. (mineralogy) Not having an obvious crystalline structure.

Synonyms

• (of or pertaining to a large mass): bulky, heavy, hefty, substantial, weighty
• (much larger than normal): colossal, enormous, gargantuan, giant, gigantic, great, huge, mahoosive (slang), titanic
• (of great significance or import): consequential, meaningful, overwhelming, significant, weighty
• (of grandeur): awesome, super, excellent, stupendous

Antonyms

• (of or pertaining to a large mass): insubstantial, light
• (much larger than normal): dwarf, little, microscopic, midget, minuscule, pint-sized, tiny, wee
• (of great significance or import): inconsequential, insignificant, piddling, trifling, trivial, unimportant
• (of grandeur): lame, stale, disappointing, crappy
• (of having nonzero mass): massless

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

massive (plural massives)

1. (mineralogy) A homogeneous mass of rock, not layered and without an obvious crystal structure.

   karst massives in western Georgia

2. (MLE, slang) A group of people from a locality, or sharing a collective aim, interest, etc.

   Big up to the Croydon massive!

Anagrams

• mavises

French

Adjective

massive

1. feminine singular of massif

German

Pronunciation

Adjective

massive

1. inflection of massiv:
   1. strong/mixed nominative/accusative feminine singular
   2. strong nominative/accusative plural
   3. weak nominative all-gender singular
   4. weak accusative feminine/neuter singular

Italian

Adjective

massive

1. feminine plural of massivo

Norwegian Bokmål

Adjective

massive

1. definite singular of massiv
2. plural of massiv

Norwegian Nynorsk

Adjective

massive

1. definite singular of massiv
2. plural of massiv