clunky

adjective

ˈkləŋ-kē How to pronounce clunky (audio)
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

Relevance

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 Too clunky to be S-tier Nolan, but the last act rewards the journey. — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 6 July 2026 This detail—along with the slim design that slips seamlessly into low-profile shoes without looking clunky—makes the insoles ideal for wearing with sockless footwear, such as ballet flats or loafers. — Irene Richardson, InStyle, 5 July 2026 Regularly pulling out a clunky upright vacuum cleaner to tidy up floor mats and car seats is just unrealistic. — Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026 While no player performed well in last year’s clunky system, the campaign revealed that Hurts indeed has limitations. — The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for clunky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clunky
  1. clumsy
  2. awkward
  3. cumbersome
  4. unwieldy
Adjective
  • But more broadly, as streaming became the dominant way audiences consume entertainment, a shelf full of stuff started to look like a relic of a clumsier time that most folks were happy to forget.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 10 July 2026
  • The decision last fall followed clumsy discussion by Kennedy’s dubiously qualified advisors, who make up the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
    — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 10 July 2026
Definition of clumsy
Adjective
  • Experts note that old brand safety rules are being recalibrated; the key is for brands to align authentically with the show's energy without appearing awkward.
    — Toni Fitzgerald, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026
  • Suki, a vocal Black woman with an at times vulgar persona, whereas Althoff, a white woman, gained a reputation as an awkward, seemingly timid interviewer on her The Really Good Podcast.
    — Meagan Jordan, VIBE.com, 10 July 2026
Definition of awkward
Adjective
  • That access is being strangled by an old and cumbersome permitting process for electrical transmission.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 13 July 2026
  • Before that, an early version relied on a physical switch on the side of the ECU, a cumbersome setup that meant popping the hood, removing trim, and flipping a switch.
    — Peter Nelson, ArsTechnica, 10 July 2026
Definition of cumbersome
Adjective
  • But the unwieldy timeline of the training facility’s completion has begun to erode trust from the latest iteration of the Sky roster.
    — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 8 July 2026
  • Montmartre, actually, is a good example of what happens when the number of tourists becomes too unwieldy to manage—shops and services here have pivoted away from supporting locals, becoming souvenir stores and tourist-only businesses.
    — Alex Ledsom, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
Definition of unwieldy

Browse Nearby Words

clunks
clunky
cluster
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Clunky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clunky. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on clunky

Nglish: Translation of clunky for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
banana-mirrored
Contradictory Words Quiz Pick out which word means one thing…and the opp...
See All