clunk

verb

\ ˈkləŋk

clunked; clunking; clunks

Definition of clunk

(Entry 1 of 2)

intransitive verb

1 : to make a clunk

2 : to hit something with a clunk

transitive verb

: to strike or hit with a clunk

clunk

noun

Definition of clunk (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : a blow or the sound of a blow : thump

2 : a dull or stupid person

Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about clunk

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Examples of clunk in a Sentence

Noun

The book hit the floor with a loud clunk. don't be such a clunk and just get on with it

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Then through the San Joaquin river delta, clunking over bridges and past houseboats. — Carl Nolte, SFChronicle.com, "Who needs high-speed rail? California already has a slow train to nowhere," 29 June 2019 The sink stopper had clunked down, permanently closed, so some idiot (probably me) had yanked it out by his fingernails and placed it to the side. — Chris Erskine, latimes.com, "Man versus house: I repair something, then fix something else. The payoff? These ribs," 8 June 2018 This closer might just clunk up for third or fourth place. — New York Times, "Kentucky Derby 2018: Odds and Our Experts’ Predictions," 4 May 2018 If the wind was blowing out, the ball might very well have clunked off the gigantic scoreboard that's now perched atop the ivy for a game-turning grand slam. — Todd Rosiak, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Brewers just can't catch a break this season against the Cubs," 27 Apr. 2018 But the heavily armored green-and-yellow train that clunked its way into Beijing last week didn’t just bring the prospect of a high-stakes nuclear summit between North Korea’s Kim Jong-un and US President Trump a step closer. — Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, "Why the US undervalues nuts and bolts diplomacy at its peril," 2 Apr. 2018 Photo: Rich Sugg/Zuma Press The Jayhawks raced down the court and Newman, their red-hot shooter, clunked a three. — Andrew Beaton, WSJ, "Kansas Delivers a Knockout Punch to Advance to the Final Four," 26 Mar. 2018 Whether cruising along or at full-stomp, the 10-speed auto shifted smoothly and crisply with no untoward hiccups, hunting or clunking. — Jeff Yip, Houston Chronicle, "Fortified Tahoe: Chevy finally offers 6.2-liter V8 in its star SUV," 9 Feb. 2018 Mac, the chocolate lab, is clunking around the kitchen. — Jim Owczarski, Cincinnati.com, "Love and football: Clint and Kelly Boling open up about life and family while in the NFL," 22 Dec. 2017

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Dior’s clog offering has snob appeal and the shoes are deceptively streamlined, despite their clunk. — Madeline Fass, Vogue, "A Search for the Perfect Fall Clog, the Bookworm’s Fashion Shoe," 17 Oct. 2018 Also, my rides ended with an abrupt ka-clunk just before the trains proceeded to the station for unloading. — Arthur Levine, USA TODAY, "Disneyland's new Pixar Pier: Is it Incredible?," 10 July 2018 The door swung open with a clunk and a screech, and cold clean air rushed into his lungs like the first breath after a storm. — Andrew Liptak, The Verge, "A transgender girl rises up against alien invaders in Rich Larson’s novel Annex," 8 July 2018 Throughout its two seasons, HBO’s Westworld has trotted out no shortage of bad guys, from robot gunslingers to mad inventors to dialog that sputters and clunks. — Brian Barrett, WIRED, "Westworld’s Real Villain Has Always Been Its Privacy Policy," 24 June 2018 And after a short scuffle and clunks of heavy hooves on the ground, an opposing player smacks the ball with his mallet in between two posts. — Brittany Britto, baltimoresun.com, "Saddle up: Maryland Polo Club celebrates 'sport of kings' with weekly matches, lively BritFest," 5 June 2018 The machine whirred and beeped for a moment, then the door slid open with a clunk, and a robotic arm dispensed the appropriate currency. — Spud Hilton, San Francisco Chronicle, "High-tech Vegas: Is your hotel room smarter than you?," 3 May 2018 In Sindelfingen, Daimler’s airport-sized factory on the edge of Stuttgart, a vast assembly hall is uncannily quiet except for occasional clunks and whirrs. — The Economist, "Germany’s conservative economic model is being put to the test," 12 Apr. 2018 The ride back to the waters of Alaska's Inside Passage was full of noisy clunks against the hull. — Plain Dealer Guest Writer, cleveland.com, "Cruising Alaska's Inside Passage, shore excursions feature close encounters with bears, icebergs (photos)," 17 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'clunk.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.