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
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Recent Examples of clunky
Unlike clunky acupressure bands or funky glasses, the Essence Essential Oil Nasal Diffusers are surprisingly discreet.
—
Francesca Krempa,
Travel + Leisure,
9 June 2026
His hatred for the industry’s clunky legacy software is what led him to build Mews in the first place.
—
Catherina Gioino,
Fortune,
27 May 2026
But the Hollywood adapters couldn’t be blamed for everything that seemed inherently clunky or, by now, dated about the musical’s book, parts of which were bound to leave a contemporary audience grimacing a little between all the grins the score provokes.
—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
27 May 2026
Carriers are battling for higher-spending customers, including by upgrading once-slow, expensive and clunky in-flight internet to higher speeds.
—
Leslie Josephs,
CNBC,
26 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for clunky
Francesca Krempa,
Travel + Leisure,
9 June 2026
His hatred for the industry’s clunky legacy software is what led him to build Mews in the first place.
—
Catherina Gioino,
Fortune,
27 May 2026
But the Hollywood adapters couldn’t be blamed for everything that seemed inherently clunky or, by now, dated about the musical’s book, parts of which were bound to leave a contemporary audience grimacing a little between all the grins the score provokes.
—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
27 May 2026
Carriers are battling for higher-spending customers, including by upgrading once-slow, expensive and clunky in-flight internet to higher speeds.
—
Leslie Josephs,
CNBC,
26 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for clunky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clunky
Adjective
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Such a feature would neatly get around the need for clumsy remote control sessions to interact with AI agents running on a distant Mac.
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The head coach was clumsy in his response, saying — in effect — that the player is better suited to being an impact substitute and taking advantage of tiring opposition defenders.
Adjective
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Human bodies were like animals’ The few medical instruments of the revolutionary era were heavy in the hand, awkward in use and imprecise to maneuver.
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In its place are itty-bitty bands that still keep your flats or heels in place, just with less of a chance of awkward tan lines.
Adjective
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Those habits feel cumbersome when a technology is evolving by the month.
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That tendency, which may have been with us since the Stone Age, today serves the interests of our cumbersome friends in the Florida Everglades.
Adjective
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Each practice requires different tools and skill sets, leading to an overall complexity that is very unwieldy to control.
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So imagine my delight at finding a way to ease these challenges while also improving my notoriously bad posture — something that didn’t involve complicated tech (like wires and sensors) or unwieldy physical objects.
Cite this Entry
“Clunky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clunky. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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