Definition of clunkynext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 clunky But the remainder feels leftover — formless and aimless — like tinfoil stretched around a clunky, conventional mass. — Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026 Affordable electric bikes usually mean enduring heavy frames, clunky kick-in for the motor and unrefined, unpredictable power delivery. — New Atlas, 19 Oct. 2026 But women looking for front wands have been stuck with unheated manual models or clunky sprayers. — Eliza Thompson, Time, 15 Oct. 2026 The BetMGM app is slower loading and the bet builder is a little clunky. — Outkick, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for clunky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clunky
Adjective
  • But even those fans of her socially clumsy and feverishly party-planning mayor’s assistant Patricia on that series may not be prepared for her soulful, wrenching work in Mike Leigh’s latest film.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 5 Nov. 2026
  • And given how clumsy its efforts have been, this is clearly the leadership of the Department of Justice acceding to the wishes of the president of the United States even when there is no sound legal basis to proceed.
    — John E. Jones III, The Conversation, 4 Nov. 2026
Adjective
  • Mallen Kupferer, the daughter of two theater artists and an actor since early childhood, is a wonder to watch, her performance as authentic and awkward as any teenager.
    — Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026
  • The route passes through neighborhoods including NoDa and Plaza Midwood, offering lively pockets of support but also quieter stretches, awkward turns and hills that can feel particularly unforgiving late in the race.
    — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 5 Nov. 2026
Adjective
  • Further compounding the urgency, patching UEFI code vulnerabilities in millions of end devices sold and used by thousands of hardware makers and cloud providers is cumbersome and time-consuming.
    — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Enter the fast-growing world of electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, known by the somewhat cumbersome acronym of eVTOLs.
    — Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Because the wheelchairs were so unwieldy, the actors needed to get out of them to relax their bodies.
    — Kristen Lopez, IndieWire, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Its proportions strike a nice balance, giving you plenty of screen real estate without making the phone feel unwieldy.
    — Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 30 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Clunky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clunky. Accessed 12 Nov. 2026.

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