as in clumsy
difficult to use or operate especially because of size, weight, or design
even my five-year-old laptop seems clunky next to some of the really slim new models
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Recent Examples of clunky
While speedy banter works for those who are likable, Jack, Geneviève and Cheyenne are such grating personalities that the entire series feels clunky, as if the audience is being held hostage in this world instead of welcomed into it.
—
Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 23 Apr. 2025
The scenes here are clunky and don’t always move the story along — there’s an aimless but moderately funny one of Wolff speed dating.
—Jake Coyle, Twin Cities, 24 Apr. 2025
Chelsea were awful in the first 45 minutes, their passive pressing and clunky mechanical passing ceding the initiative to a forceful Fulham before giving up a startlingly soft goal.
—Liam Twomey, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2025
High-end, clunky and difficult to operate, the Imax camera allowed astronauts to bring the art form of cinematography to space and back home.
—Lillian Ali, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clunky
Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 23 Apr. 2025
The scenes here are clunky and don’t always move the story along — there’s an aimless but moderately funny one of Wolff speed dating.
—Jake Coyle, Twin Cities, 24 Apr. 2025
Chelsea were awful in the first 45 minutes, their passive pressing and clunky mechanical passing ceding the initiative to a forceful Fulham before giving up a startlingly soft goal.
—Liam Twomey, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2025
High-end, clunky and difficult to operate, the Imax camera allowed astronauts to bring the art form of cinematography to space and back home.
—Lillian Ali, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clunky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clunky
Adjective
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For those things that are bigger, or subject to rough forces like clumsy human hands, through-hole soldering is still required, with leads poked through a connective hole and solder applied to connect and join them securely.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
30 Apr. 2025
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The rubber sole is also important for clumsy gals like myself.—
Alyssa Grabinski,
People.com,
12 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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There was an awkward overhead in the third game that Sinner couldn’t meet square on.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
13 May 2025
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But the timing of the Rockies’ decision was awkward.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
12 May 2025
Adjective
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In the medium term, reliance on AI will diminish our need and motivation to engage in cumbersome independent thought processes, potentially leading to cognitive atrophy in the long run.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2025
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For many retailers, cash remains a critical part of daily operations, but depositing that cash is a cumbersome, time-consuming process that has not changed in 30 years.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Unlike its larger counterparts that may feel unwieldy within the confines of the hallowed relish tray, the little forks are just the right size for daintily placing in small bowls of various pickled delights, from okra to onions, or nestling alongside the crudités.—
Betsy Cribb Watson,
Southern Living,
10 May 2025
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Comment By necessity of its ambitious and sometimes unwieldy four-seasons-in-one structure, the second season of Andor has developed, at its midway point, a complex relationship with time.—
Jesse Hassenger,
Vulture,
7 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clunky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clunky. Accessed 16 May. 2025.
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