as in clumsy
difficult to use or operate especially because of size, weight, or design even my five-year-old laptop seems clunky next to some of the really slim new models

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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 clunky And the choreography comes off as clunky and sophomoric, with all the high school connotations therein. Rod Stafford Hagwood, Sun Sentinel, 14 Feb. 2025 Imagine never having to use a clunky scanner at the office or your home ever again. New Atlas, 13 Feb. 2025 That’s all fair enough, but, wow, is this clunky show on the nose with all that stuff. Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 13 Feb. 2025 The idea of rewarding the schools that get better TV ratings seems clunky, given all the uncontrollable factors that help determine those numbers. Stewart Mandel, The Athletic, 12 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for clunky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clunky
Adjective
  • The character first appears in the franchise’s original film Scream (1996) as the older brother of Tatum Riley (Rose McGowan) and the clumsy police deputy trying to help solve the murders in their town of Woodsboro.
    Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 4 Mar. 2025
  • Aviles’ dismissal, for a clumsy challenge on the edge of the penalty area, seemed set to turn the game.
    Martin Rogers, The Athletic, 22 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • When Anne Hathaway co-hosted the ceremony with James Franco in 2012, it was widely panned as the Academy's awkward attempt to attract younger viewers.
    Lucia Suarez Sang, CBS News, 2 Mar. 2025
  • However, whether the friendship will survive the awkward gift exchange remains to be seen.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 2 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • These methods work for a coin or two, but would be cumbersome for large deals.
    Dave Birnbaum, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
  • But now many have become reliant on the practice, especially in rural areas where getting to a medical facility can take longer and be more cumbersome for seniors.
    David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Due to their unwieldy shape, crystal decanters are hard to situate securely in a dishwasher, and rocks glasses are tough but fragile.
    BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 21 Feb. 2025
  • Seedlings have visibly outgrown their containers and have become leggy, top-heavy, or unwieldy.
    Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Clunky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clunky. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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