clunkier; clunkiest
Synonyms of clunkynext
: clumsy in style, form, or execution
a clunky thriller
clunky earrings

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.
Previously, clunky lines of dialogue from Nolan’s Odyssey attracted online backlash, as trailers revealed the Ancient Greek adaptation to be littered with American accents and modern phrases. Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026 Above all, the overwrought thirty-two-dollar packet of luxury strikes a discordant note in a restaurant that seems, in every other way, to have no need for such clunky signifiers. Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 26 July 2026 Playing with Antetokounmpo and Adebayo, and again for Spoelstra, had real appeal, even if the frontcourt fit was a little clunky. David Aldridge, New York Times, 25 July 2026 The design is meant to match the shape of a foot without feeling clunky or cumbersome. Tanya Sharma, PEOPLE, 19 July 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

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Cite this Entry

“Clunky.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clunky. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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