1
as in clumsy
difficult to use or operate especially because of size, weight, or design
getting the ungainly couch up the stairs was a real chore
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in awkward
having or showing an inability to move in a graceful manner
the tree cutter was crushing any unlucky petunias that lay in the path of his ungainly tread
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ungainly
And, just like the Cayenne, the Panamera did so in spite of a rather ungainly exterior.
—
Will Sabel Courtney,
Robb Report,
19 Mar. 2026
But the documentary is an ungainly blend of ultra-earnest hagiography and trashy true-crime sensationalism, without being completely satisfying as either.
—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Mar. 2026
And yet, within quarter of a century, this ungainly apparatus had established itself as a vital pillar of global governance.
—
Time,
26 Feb. 2026
Melbourne, Australia — An ungainly barrel of a shark cruising languidly over a barren seabed far too deep for the sun's rays to illuminate was an unexpected sight.
—
CBS News,
18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ungainly
Will Sabel Courtney,
Robb Report,
19 Mar. 2026
But the documentary is an ungainly blend of ultra-earnest hagiography and trashy true-crime sensationalism, without being completely satisfying as either.
—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Mar. 2026
And yet, within quarter of a century, this ungainly apparatus had established itself as a vital pillar of global governance.
—
Time,
26 Feb. 2026
Melbourne, Australia — An ungainly barrel of a shark cruising languidly over a barren seabed far too deep for the sun's rays to illuminate was an unexpected sight.
—
CBS News,
18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ungainly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ungainly
Adjective
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This has, in many cases, led to some clumsy looking solutions at venues across North America.
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An early furor over accepting valuable gifts, including designer spectacles and Taylor Swift concert tickets, was followed by a series of policy U-turns, especially clumsy attempts to cut welfare spending that stirred anger in Labour ranks.
Adjective
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Your 2nd House of Finances hits an awkward angle as the nurturing Moon quincunxes ambitious Mars in your 9th House of Travel and Learning.
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But that doesn’t mean there still aren’t some awkward moments.
Adjective
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The anxieties, the mess, the whole unwieldy tapestry of the celebration has nothing at all to do with me.
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An organization with the unwieldy name of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing — NASCAR — was born.
Adjective
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That's thanks in large part to Hathaway's winning turn as Mia Thermopolis, a gawky teenager who discovers that her estranged grandmother (Julie Andrews) is actually the queen of a small country.
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Somehow, McCarthy’s assurance makes these clichés seem new again, donning them as naturally as O’Connell’s gawky bellboy wearing an old-fashioned red cap.
Adjective
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Those habits feel cumbersome when a technology is evolving by the month.
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That tendency, which may have been with us since the Stone Age, today serves the interests of our cumbersome friends in the Florida Everglades.
Adjective
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McConnell has always appeared to have a somewhat unsteady gate — a childhood bout of polio left him with a partially paralyzed leg.
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Swalwell's absence on the campaign trail allowed Becerra to gain more traction as a seemingly steady Democratic option in a very unsteady race.
Adjective
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In November, a number of odd bedfellows submitted several, uncoordinated letters to the BLM’s acting director, all urging caution about the downstream effects of the CRA ruling.
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Much of this is vibrational motion, which is random and uncoordinated.
Cite this Entry
“Ungainly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ungainly. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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