ungainly

adjective

ˌən-ˈgān-lē How to pronounce ungainly (audio)
Definition of ungainlynext
1
as in clumsy
difficult to use or operate especially because of size, weight, or design getting the ungainly couch up the stairs was a real chore

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in awkward
having or showing an inability to move in a graceful manner the tree cutter was crushing any unlucky petunias that lay in the path of his ungainly tread

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ungainly In its back-to-back knottiness, the album takes on an ungainly quality that, deliberate or not, sets up roadblocks to prolonged enjoyment. — Maxie Younger, Pitchfork, 27 Mar. 2026 The situation has grown so ungainly and untenable that, if Silicon Valley is merely forced to slow down, the viability of all this spending will likely be called into question in ways that could be devastating for many. — Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026 But the documentary is an ungainly blend of ultra-earnest hagiography and trashy true-crime sensationalism, without being completely satisfying as either. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 13 Mar. 2026 And yet, within quarter of a century, this ungainly apparatus had established itself as a vital pillar of global governance. — Time, 26 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ungainly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ungainly
  1. clumsy
  2. awkward
  3. unwieldy
  4. gawky
  5. cumbersome
  6. unsteady
  7. uncoordinated
Adjective
  • Such episodes now look like clumsy moments in a decade of dissembling.
    — Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Yirenki’s challenge on Christos Tzolis is clumsy, but well short of a first yellow card, let alone a second.
    — Graham Scott, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of clumsy
Adjective
  • Lug a bulky, awkward, bear-proof canister to store your food so you don’t get mauled.
    — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • That puts the conference’s universities in an awkward—and potentially paradoxical—position of promoting a product that researchers within their academic departments have raised concerns about.
    — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of awkward
Adjective
  • The salt flats are a big, unwieldy space to navigate, but the feeling of getting lost on them (with a guide who knows their way perfectly) is a real treat.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Tanvir managed to run a fan using an unwieldy connection of power cords.
    — Diaa Hadid, NPR, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of unwieldy
Adjective
  • His character in that film had a gawky teen-age bravado, a precocious man-of-the-world assurance.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 24 July 2026
  • Or gawky characters, all angular bone structures and willowy limbs?
    — Max Berlinger, Vogue, 3 July 2026
Definition of gawky
Adjective
  • Another important implication is that once a country is removed from the State Department list, getting it back on is bureaucratically cumbersome.
    — Jason M. Blazakis, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Fall decor that is too cluttered, sharp, or cumbersome is often to blame.
    — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of cumbersome
Adjective
  • So even if the Switch 2’s frame rate is unsteady, the handheld screen will hide the stutters and dips.
    — Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 31 Aug. 2026
  • But the firm also highlights a 'bull case' where the Strait of Hormuz remains unsteady past the November 3rd elections in America and Brent pops back into the $110 range.
    — Brian Sullivan, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of unsteady
Adjective
  • Every part of our system is largely uncoordinated and underfunded.
    — Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 18 Aug. 2026
  • This has created an uncoordinated and even contradictory landscape for policies focused on drinking.
    — Isabella Cueto, STAT, 14 July 2026
Definition of uncoordinated

Browse Nearby Words

ungainliness
ungainly
ungallant
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Cite this Entry

“Ungainly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ungainly. Accessed 6 Sep. 2026.

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