clunky

adjective

ˈkləŋ-kē How to pronounce clunky (audio)
clunkier; clunkiest
Synonyms of clunkynext
: clumsy in style, form, or execution
a clunky thriller
clunky earrings

Synonyms of clunky

Relevance
See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of clunky in a Sentence

I drive a clunky old station wagon. His act was full of clunky one-liners.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Shirley and Derek both call out some clunky lift transitions (those lifts really leave a lot to be desired), but everyone agrees that Jackson’s commitment shines. — Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 28 Oct. 2026 This often has translated into centers playing in clunky shoes with thick outsoles to absorb the heavier impact of their landing and constricting support to protect their ankles. — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026 The first generation of something is always a little clunky, showing potential but flawed. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 28 Oct. 2026 But the remainder feels leftover — formless and aimless — like tinfoil stretched around a clunky, conventional mass. — Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for clunky

Word History

First Known Use

1937, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of clunky was in 1937

Rhymes for clunky

See All Rhymes for clunky

Browse Nearby Words

clunker
clunky
clunter
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Clunky.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clunky. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of Pyrrhic

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Pwn, Skibidi, Girlboss and Other Words Added to the 2026 Scrabble Dictionary

The Words of the Week - Oct. 30

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
couple-laugh-cafe
Quiz: Foreign Phrases You Should Know Check out your bona fides and avoid any faux pas.
See All