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

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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 Carriers are battling for higher-spending customers, including by upgrading once-slow, expensive and clunky in-flight internet to higher speeds. Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 26 May 2026 The links were clunky, the attribution was debated, incrementality was always questioned and the whole channel had the whiff of late-night coupon codes rather than cutting-edge commerce strategy. Lauren Newman, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026 Of course, the pivotal thing was to create an inciting incident that propels the story without clunky exposition. Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 23 May 2026 Like a false note on an out-of-tune piano, a clunky verb, a sentence without rhythm, yanks the reader out the flow of the work. Literary Hub, 19 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for clunky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clunky
Adjective
  • The historic victory, the nation’s first ever in the World Cup, was overshadowed when the midfielder injured his leg in gruesome fashion following a clumsy challenge from Qatar’s Assim Madibo.
    Ben Church, CNN Money, 19 June 2026
  • Better systems beat willpower as clumsy Chiron enters your 6th House of Work and Health, reminding you that mistakes teach faster than shame.
    Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 19 June 2026
Adjective
  • Your 2nd House of Finances hits an awkward angle as the nurturing Moon quincunxes ambitious Mars in your 9th House of Travel and Learning.
    Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 23 June 2026
  • But that doesn’t mean there still aren’t some awkward moments.
    Michael Schneider, Variety, 22 June 2026
Adjective
  • And though there are no tariffs imposed on British goods entering the EU, there is a raft of non-tariff barriers, such as cumbersome customs paperwork, border certifications, and visa restrictions.
    ABC News, ABC News, 21 June 2026
  • With a Brush Head Heavy electric vacuums can be extremely cumbersome to use on furniture, and their handy attachments often don’t cover enough fabric at a time.
    Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 18 June 2026
Adjective
  • The anxieties, the mess, the whole unwieldy tapestry of the celebration has nothing at all to do with me.
    Bobby Finger June 16, Literary Hub, 16 June 2026
  • An organization with the unwieldy name of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing — NASCAR — was born.
    Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Clunky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clunky. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.

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