UNGAINLY Synonyms: 52 Similar and Opposite Words

ungainly

adjective

ˌən-ˈgān-lē

Definition of ungainly

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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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 ungainly Instead of an ungainly pile of pillows, modern buyers prefer to let the materials sing. — Abby Wolner, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 June 2026 Seydoux tromps through the film with a masculine heaviness — a sense of dysphoria that translates to her character’s ungainly bearing. — Daniel D'addario, Variety, 18 May 2026 In its back-to-back knottiness, the album takes on an ungainly quality that, deliberate or not, sets up roadblocks to prolonged enjoyment. — Maxie Younger, Pitchfork, 27 Mar. 2026 The situation has grown so ungainly and untenable that, if Silicon Valley is merely forced to slow down, the viability of all this spending will likely be called into question in ways that could be devastating for many. — Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ungainly

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ungainly

Adjective

But even those fans of her socially clumsy and feverishly party-planning mayor’s assistant Patricia on that series may not be prepared for her soulful, wrenching work in Mike Leigh’s latest film.

— Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 5 Nov. 2026
And given how clumsy its efforts have been, this is clearly the leadership of the Department of Justice acceding to the wishes of the president of the United States even when there is no sound legal basis to proceed.

— John E. Jones III, The Conversation, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of clumsy

Adjective

Mallen Kupferer, the daughter of two theater artists and an actor since early childhood, is a wonder to watch, her performance as authentic and awkward as any teenager.

— Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026
The route passes through neighborhoods including NoDa and Plaza Midwood, offering lively pockets of support but also quieter stretches, awkward turns and hills that can feel particularly unforgiving late in the race.

— Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of awkward

Adjective

Because the wheelchairs were so unwieldy, the actors needed to get out of them to relax their bodies.

— Kristen Lopez, IndieWire, 2 Nov. 2026
Its proportions strike a nice balance, giving you plenty of screen real estate without making the phone feel unwieldy.

— Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of unwieldy

Adjective

Further compounding the urgency, patching UEFI code vulnerabilities in millions of end devices sold and used by thousands of hardware makers and cloud providers is cumbersome and time-consuming.

— Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 27 Oct. 2026
Enter the fast-growing world of electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, known by the somewhat cumbersome acronym of eVTOLs.

— Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of cumbersome

Adjective

Police said her breath reportedly smelled of alcohol, her speech was slightly slurred, her eyes were bloodshot, and her balance was unsteady.

— Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026
At their meeting, Karmitz noticed that Zvyagintsev’s gait was still unsteady.

— Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of unsteady

Adjective

And it won’t be lost on anyone how uncoordinated the Chargers’ operation seemed behind its new coordinators.

— Mirjam Swanson, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026
And some elements of it seem inarguably true, such as the idea that Clancy’s psychiatric care was woefully uncoordinated.

— Elizabeth Bruenig, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of uncoordinated

Browse Nearby Words

ungainliness

ungainly

ungallant

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“Ungainly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ungainly. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of ungainly

adjective

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