Synonyms of clunky

clunky

adjective

ˈkləŋ-kē 

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

• clumsy
• awkward
• cumbersome
• unwieldy
• ungainly
• ponderous
• cumbrous
• heavy
• unhandy
• cranky
• impractical
• bulky
• massive
• bunglesome
• unmanageable
• uncontrollable
• dinosauric
• elephantine
• impracticable
• hulking
• dinosaurian

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• practical
• useful
• functional
• handy
• practicable
• serviceable

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of clunky

Eloquence clearly isn’t Ken’s strong suit, but his clunky commentary gains pertinence when the scene cuts to Ned (Domhnall Gleeson) and Mare (Chelsea Frei). — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 9 Sep. 2026

Affleck’s attempt to bind these three narratives into some grand conclusion, or lesson, about the state of being alive in the world is muddled and overwrought, full of clunky poetry that seems to think abstraction and repetition are keys to meaning. — Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026

The first half was clunky, but — as usual — Moore kept his cool and was at his best in the critical moments. — Nick Baumgardner, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026

Leaving behind the 1996–2000 era of clunky plastic telephones with long cords and no internet, Scream 4 adapts to the times and introduces cell phones, webcams, laptops, and social media. — Michael Lee Simpson, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Sep. 2026