unmanageable
gb/ʌnmˈænɪd͡ʒəbəl/ us/ʌnmˈænɪd͡ʒəbəl/
B2
English
kezelhetetlen, irányíthatatlan
B2
1
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] is unmanageable
After the bad news, his anger became unmanageable.
A rossz hír után a dühe kezelhetetlenné vált.
The class was unmanageable without a clear set of rules.
Világos szabályok nélkül az osztály kezelhetetlen volt.
By midnight the crowd was unmanageable, and security had to close the gates.
Learner examples
The children were unmanageable today.
A gyerekek ma kezelhetetlenek voltak.
My stress felt unmanageable last week.
A múlt héten kezelhetetlennek éreztem a stresszemet.
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse unmanageable with immanageable (not a standard word in English).
Meaning
hard to control or handle
Collocations
an unmanageable child
|unmanageable kids
|unmanageable behavior
|an unmanageable temper
|unmanageable emotions
|an unmanageable crowd
|an unmanageable situation
|unmanageable patients
|unmanageable noise
|an unmanageable dog
Synonyms
uncontrollable (Often emphasizes lack of control rather than difficulty of dealing with.)
|
unruly (Usually refers to people (especially children) behaving badly.)
|
out of control (More conversational; stresses that control has been lost.)
Antonyms
manageable (Able to be controlled or dealt with successfully.)
|
controllable (Able to be kept under control.)
Themes
daily_life
|behavior
|emotions
Definition
If someone or something is unmanageable, you cannot control it.
Difficult or impossible to control, calm, or keep in order.
B2
2
Usage pattern:
an unmanageable [problem/workload/amount]
As the company grew, the old system became unmanageable.
Ahogy a cég nőtt, a régi rendszer kezelhetetlenné vált.
Without more staff, the workload is unmanageable.
Több munkatárs nélkül a munkateher kezelhetetlen.
The report was delayed because the data set was unmanageable.
Learner examples
This homework is unmanageable for one night.
Ez a házi feladat túl sok egy estére.
The costs became unmanageable.
A költségek kezelhetetlenné váltak.
Common mistake:
Unmanageable describes inability to handle something; it does not mean 'not organized' (that is often messy or disorganized).
Meaning
too difficult to deal with
Collocations
an unmanageable workload
|an unmanageable problem
|unmanageable debt
|an unmanageable schedule
|unmanageable complexity
|an unmanageable project
|an unmanageable amount
|an unmanageable number
|unmanageable bureaucracy
|unmanageable costs
Synonyms
overwhelming (Focuses on the effect on the person dealing with it.)
|
unworkable (Suggests a plan or system cannot function in practice.)
|
unwieldy (Often implies awkward size/structure rather than sheer difficulty.)
Antonyms
feasible (Possible to do successfully.)
|
workable (Likely to work well in practice.)
|
manageable (Small or simple enough to handle.)
Themes
work
|business
|problems
Definition
If something is unmanageable, it is too big or too hard to do.
So large, complicated, or demanding that it cannot be dealt with effectively.
C1
3
Usage pattern:
the [vehicle/boat] became unmanageable
The car became unmanageable on the icy road.
Az autó a jeges úton irányíthatatlanná vált.
In heavy crosswinds, the small plane felt unmanageable.
Erős oldalszélben a kis repülőgép irányíthatatlannak tűnt.
The boat was unmanageable after the rudder was damaged.
Learner examples
My bike was unmanageable in the strong wind.
Erős szélben a biciklimet alig tudtam irányítani.
Common mistake:
In this sense, unmanageable is about physical control (steering/handling), not difficulty of a task.
Meaning
hard to steer or control
Collocations
the car became unmanageable
|an unmanageable vehicle
|the boat became unmanageable
|unmanageable in high winds
|unmanageable on ice
|unmanageable at speed
|an unmanageable truck
|unmanageable in rough seas
Synonyms
out of control (Very common; emphasizes sudden loss of control.)
|
unstable (Suggests the vehicle does not stay steady or balanced.)
Antonyms
stable (Not likely to skid, tip, or veer unexpectedly.)
|
controllable (Able to be steered and kept under control.)
Themes
transport
|safety
Definition
If a vehicle becomes unmanageable, you cannot control where it goes.
Difficult to steer, guide, or keep on course, especially because of conditions or damage.
Grammar
Dictionary form
unmanageable
IPA
GB/ʌnmˈænɪd͡ʒəbəl/
US/ʌnmˈænɪd͡ʒəbəl/
Syllables & stress
un - man - age - able (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (man)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: unmanageable
Expressions
become unmanageable
1/bɪkˈʌm ʌnmˈænɪd͡ʒəbəl/
fixed phrase
turn into something hard to handle
It becomes too hard to control or deal with.
Examples
- The noise became unmanageable after the band started playing.
- As the emails piled up, the inbox became unmanageable.
- His pain became unmanageable without medication.
Learner examples
- The situation became unmanageable.
grow unmanageable
1/ɡɹˈoʊ ʌnmˈænɪd͡ʒəbəl/
fixed phrase
increase until it can’t be handled
It becomes bigger or harder until you cannot manage it.
Examples
- Without updates, the codebase can grow unmanageable over time.
- The queue grew unmanageable after the website crashed.
- Their expenses grew unmanageable during the winter.
Learner examples
- The problem grew unmanageable.
make [something] unmanageable
1/mˈeɪk sˈʌmθɪŋ ʌnmˈænɪd͡ʒəbəl/
fixed phrase
cause something to be too hard
To cause something to become too difficult to deal with.
Examples
- Last-minute changes made the project unmanageable.
- Poor planning can make a simple task unmanageable.
- Extra fees quickly made the debt unmanageable.
Learner examples
- Too many rules can make a game unmanageable.