1
as in uncomfortable
lacking social grace and assurance
inelegant teens still learning how to act at formal events
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in inappropriate
marked by an obvious lack of style or good taste
inelegant furniture that looked like it belonged in a budget motel
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inelegant
This strikes me as an inelegant way to write Tommy off the show, if that’s indeed what’s happening.
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Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
27 Apr. 2026
Hockey was a bruising, inelegant sport played in the frozen tundra of Canada and the upper Midwest when Vachon was traded from the Montreal Canadiens to the Kings in the winter of 1971.
—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Apr. 2026
But its blunt, inelegant dialogue is peppered with characters (metaphorically) vomiting up their darkest secrets.
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Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
10 Apr. 2026
The traffic, bachelorette party buses and more inelegant tourists are far out of sight and view from up here.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inelegant
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
27 Apr. 2026
Hockey was a bruising, inelegant sport played in the frozen tundra of Canada and the upper Midwest when Vachon was traded from the Montreal Canadiens to the Kings in the winter of 1971.
—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Apr. 2026
But its blunt, inelegant dialogue is peppered with characters (metaphorically) vomiting up their darkest secrets.
—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
10 Apr. 2026
The traffic, bachelorette party buses and more inelegant tourists are far out of sight and view from up here.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for inelegant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inelegant
Adjective
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Runcie is sharply attuned to the vast uncomfortable grey areas of gender and power relations, navigating them with wry, revelatory observations that are devastatingly acute.
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That observation carries an uncomfortable implication for executives.
Adjective
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Murdaugh’s attorneys appealed the convictions, saying the trial was tainted by the county clerk Becky Hill’s inappropriate comments to jurors implying his guilt.
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Live streams and other unfiltered media can expose kids to risky or inappropriate content, so adult guidance is key.
Adjective
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Such a feature would neatly get around the need for clumsy remote control sessions to interact with AI agents running on a distant Mac.
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The head coach was clumsy in his response, saying — in effect — that the player is better suited to being an impact substitute and taking advantage of tiring opposition defenders.
Adjective
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Released Parties are also not responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by site users, tampering, hacking, or by any equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Giveaway.
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At the same time, The New York Times reported that Google’s AI Overviews produced incorrect answers roughly one in 10 times.
Adjective
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Human bodies were like animals’ The few medical instruments of the revolutionary era were heavy in the hand, awkward in use and imprecise to maneuver.
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In its place are itty-bitty bands that still keep your flats or heels in place, just with less of a chance of awkward tan lines.
Adjective
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The dogs were found to be living in unsuitable conditions, while the puppies were suffering from malnutrition, and a number of the dogs had additional medical conditions as well.
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In 2023 the agency documented signs of stress in sloths during public encounters, improper handling of a juvenile kangaroo and environmental conditions deemed unsuitable for a sloth’s care.
Adjective
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The company and the government have since seemed to settle into an uneasy truce.
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But some retirees remain uneasy about security concerns, healthcare quality, and property ownership structures.
Adjective
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In a country where air conditioning is both uncommon and unfashionable, many have sought relief by swimming, despite the danger involved.
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More to Explore Many of the human props—canes, top hats, desks—used in primate taxidermy became unfashionable in the first half of the nineteenth century, but there were still throwbacks.
Cite this Entry
“Inelegant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inelegant. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
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