clunky

English

Etymology

From clunk +‎ -y.

Pronunciation

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ʌŋki

Adjective

clunky (comparative clunkier, superlative clunkiest)

1. (informal) Ungainly; awkward; inelegant; cumbersome.

   That tomboy's clothing is rather clunky.

   • 2013 May 23, Sarah Lyall, “British Leader’s Liberal Turn Sets Off a Rebellion in His Party”, in New York Times‎, retrieved 29 May 2013:

     At a time when Mr. Cameron is being squeezed from both sides — from the right by members of his own party and by the anti-immigrant, anti-Europe U.K. Independence Party, and from the left by his Liberal Democrat coalition partners — the move seemed uncharacteristically clunky.

2. Being or making a clunk sound.
   • 2012, Mike Brent, Fiona Dent, The Leader's Guide to Influence:

     You might find yourself listening to the sound your car door makes when it shuts. Is it a cheap tinny sound or a strong clunky sound like the VW?

Derived terms

• clunkily
• clunkiness

Translations

ungainly and awkward to use

Afrikaans: please add this translation if you can Arabic: please add this translation if you can Dutch: onhandig (nl), onbeholpen (nl) German: klobig (de), schwerfällig (de) Norwegian: Bokmål: prakket, tungvint, upraktisk Portuguese: desajeitado (pt) Russian: неуклюжий (ru) m (neukljužij) Spanish: forzado (es), torpe (es), burdo (es), inadecuado (es), aparatoso (es), desgarbado (es), difícil de usar Turkish: elverişsiz (tr), hantal (tr), kullanışsız (tr)