clunker

noun

ˈkləŋ-kər How to pronounce clunker (audio)
Definition of clunkernext
1
as in crate
a dilapidated old automobile she drove a clunker because she couldn't afford anything better

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in disaster
something that has failed a real clunker, the movie was soon littering the shelves of video stores everywhere

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 clunker Same goes for Sonny Gray (two quality starts, two 4-inning clunkers), Ranger Suarez and Brayan Bello (both two bad games followed by a gem). — Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 19 Apr. 2026 Perhaps the 6-11 clunker was inevitable in some ways after five Super Bowl appearances in six seasons — and three straight — left the Chiefs playing 19 postseason games in that span. — Kansas City Star, 17 Apr. 2026 Randy Vásquez just had his first clunker on Wednesday after allowing two runs over his first three starts. — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026 The team really made their clunker count, getting blasted 4-0 at home by El Paso Locomotive FC on Saturday. — Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 12 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for clunker
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clunker
  1. crate
  2. disaster
  3. failure
  4. disappointment
  5. loser
  6. catastrophe
Noun
  • Police found Jones' cellphone still inside the apartment and discovered her dog locked inside a crate, where it had apparently been left without food and sitting in its own waste for several days.
    — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 14 July 2026
  • One dog died in a crate, three died in a trailer and two died in a car in a parking lot.
    — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 13 July 2026
Definition of crate
Noun
  • The whole administration of the capital is threatened by this disaster.
    — Andrei Popoviciu, The Dial, 23 July 2026
  • But simply hoping things will bounce back is a recipe for disaster.
    — Chris Adams, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
Definition of disaster
Noun
  • Given Zidane won the Champions League in three successive years as coach of Real Madrid, anything less than victory at the European Championship in 2028 will be considered a failure.
    — James Horncastle, New York Times, 19 July 2026
  • At the time he was arrested, authorities had issued a separate warrant for Milton stemming from his failure to appear in court and alleged curfew violations in a retail theft case, court records show.
    — Dan Petrella, Chicago Tribune, 18 July 2026
Definition of failure
Noun
  • The club has transformed from one of baseball’s biggest disappointments into a legitimate contender over the second half.
    — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • Christa’s family, through their attorney, have expressed disappointment about his escape.
    — Janelle Griffith, PEOPLE, 21 July 2026
Definition of disappointment
Noun
  • This fight carries immense stakes, with the loser potentially facing a significant setback in their career.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 24 July 2026
  • From there on out, every story beat will be familiar to anyone who’s ever seen a come-from-behind underdog loser redemption movie.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 21 July 2026
Definition of loser
Noun
  • For the second year in a row, this quiet Hill Country town is digging itself out of a catastrophe that has mercilessly taken a community trying to heal and set them back on the path of mourning.
    — Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
  • Every child identified before a catastrophe reminds us that statistics represent real people.
    — Torie Bosch, STAT, 18 July 2026
Definition of catastrophe

Browse Nearby Words

clunked
clunker
clunkers
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Clunker.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clunker. Accessed 25 Jul. 2026.

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