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
But the controversy over Newsom’s inelegant statement goes to the heart of the Democratic divide right now.
—
Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2025
Director Benedict Andrews has adapted the text with a heavy, though not inelegant, push toward contemporary British rhythms and mores, and the ensemble gets the street-clothes-with-a-nod-to-character treatment.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 4 Apr. 2025
The obvious fix is a little bit of duct tape, an inelegant but quick repair with a resource that most households already have on hand.
—PC Magazine, 26 Mar. 2025
For such an inelegant behavior to be in chatbots as widespread and popular as GPT is a blunt reminder of two larger, seemingly contrary phenomena.
—Jonathan L. Zittrain, The Atlantic, 17 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for inelegant
Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2025
Director Benedict Andrews has adapted the text with a heavy, though not inelegant, push toward contemporary British rhythms and mores, and the ensemble gets the street-clothes-with-a-nod-to-character treatment.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 4 Apr. 2025
The obvious fix is a little bit of duct tape, an inelegant but quick repair with a resource that most households already have on hand.
—PC Magazine, 26 Mar. 2025
For such an inelegant behavior to be in chatbots as widespread and popular as GPT is a blunt reminder of two larger, seemingly contrary phenomena.
—Jonathan L. Zittrain, The Atlantic, 17 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for inelegant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inelegant
Adjective
-
And also burst into laughter – uncomfortable laughter.—
Katcy Stephan,
Variety,
29 June 2025
-
There was one uncomfortable moment when the Bruins’ brass on Causeway Street, trying to interface with Hagens at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles via Zoom, could not hear the player and the broadcast had to move on.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
28 June 2025
Adjective
-
Satisfied that there may have indeed been inappropriate action on the part of the veteran Karate Kid actor, Sony addressed Kove directly.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
26 June 2025
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Still, Hinge, as part of Match Group, is using AI for coaching features that help users improve their profile, choose better photos, and filter inappropriate messages before they’re sent.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
26 June 2025
Adjective
-
At times, Alcaraz was almost as clumsy as Federer in his last hurrah here against Hubert Hurkacz in 2021.—
Tim Ellis,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
-
But things get weighed down by a clumsy body-swapping plot and a pairing between Joe and 22 that never fully pays off.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
26 June 2025
Adjective
-
Consider a car engine: Removing deposits and sludge (inaccurate, outdated, irrelevant and incorrect information) reduces friction, while clean oil (large language models and AI) ensures smooth performance.—
Savinay Berry,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2025
-
Belief in other scientifically incorrect claims can be extremely dangerous.—
Mark Boslough,
Scientific American,
25 June 2025
Adjective
-
The next mayor, like so many of his predecessors, will have to engage in awkward negotiations with politicians in Albany.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
30 June 2025
-
Barely a week goes by without some fresh young talent arriving in West London to pose for the media with a Blue jersey and an awkward grin.—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
Adjective
-
Washing Windows Cleaning windows works best in good lighting to achieve a streak-free finish, making nighttime an unsuitable time for the task.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 June 2025
-
Directed by Joseph Kahn, the clip features guest appearances from Marlon Lundgren Garcia and MrBeast, who play unsuitable prospects for the singer.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
16 June 2025
Adjective
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Edan Lui of Hong Kong boy band Mirror will also make his Korean drama debut in the new season, joining the cast in a role that pairs him in an uneasy alliance with Kim Do-gi.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
25 June 2025
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Repeatedly returning to themes of globalization and alienation, the 55-year-old director has meticulously chronicled his country’s uneasy plunge into the 21st century as rampant industrialization risks deadening those left behind.—
Tim Grierson,
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2025
Adjective
-
Unlike many of their previous teams, who always fell short at major events often in the most dire circumstances, this South Africa side was unfashionable.—
Tristan Lavalette,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2025
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Wearing an unfashionable but marginally faster time-trial helmet, Van Uden held off Kooij with a long-range sprint to take a surprise win — and secure a hugely important point tally for Picnic PostNL.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
19 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inelegant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inelegant. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.
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