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 What’s more, the clunky attempts to tie this challenge to Milan’s upcoming Winter Olympics aren’t just clunky but pretty distracting, too. Caroline Framke, Vulture, 6 June 2025 The voice work has taken an enormous leap as the actors behind digital characters become stars in their own right, and the gameplay has been refined to the point that older titles feel clunky at times. Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 30 May 2025 As a result, support links end up buried, forms become clunky and chatbots are the only visible option. Gabriel Shaoolian, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025 The episode is clunky, offensive, and very outdated. Melissa Locker, Time, 30 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for clunky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clunky
Adjective
  • The clumsy use of voice-overs is more embarrassing still.
    Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2025
  • In the latest, a clumsy but charming young woman in Paris, struggling to become a writer and longing for Jane Austen-style romance, finally has her moment at a Jane Austen Writers’ Residency in England.
    Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 25 May 2025
Adjective
  • From awkward silences to unresolved tensions, most of us would rather scroll, text, or disappear than risk a moment of raw, honest connection.
    Margie Warrell, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
  • The feelings of being sweaty, red-faced and kind of awkward is very familiar to me.
    Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2025
Adjective
  • Trying to clean behind heavy, cumbersome appliances is a different story.
    Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 3 June 2025
  • During his first term, Trump frequently slammed environmental studies under NEPA as too cumbersome and time-consuming.
    CNN.com, Mercury News, 29 May 2025
Adjective
  • Adding more throughput is unwieldy and impractical.
    Steve Banker, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
  • The Strider proved too big, heavy, and unwieldy for his still-developing motor skills.
    The Editors, Outside Online, 30 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Clunky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clunky. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.

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