clunky

American  

[kluhng-kee] / ˈklʌŋ ki /

adjective

Informal.

clunkier, clunkiest

1. awkwardly heavy or clumsy.

   clunky metal jewelry; clunky shoes.

---

clunky British  

/ ˈklʌŋkɪ /

adjective

1. making a clunking noise

2. informal ponderously ungraceful or unsophisticated

   clunky boots

3. awkward or unsophisticated

   then you guffaw at clunky dialogue

---

Etymology

Origin of clunky

First recorded in 1965–70; clunk + -y ¹

Example Sentences

“The Forsytes” is a clunky visual feast, but it’s also a new hot dish in an expanding buffet of eat-the-rich takes that materializes what one imagines a serialized adaptation of Gentlemen’s Quarterly would look like.

From Salon

Though there were misses like the 1960s-era Picture Phone, which was too expensive and clunky for its day, its golden age lasted from the late 1920s until the 1980s.

From The Wall Street Journal

They include lobbying reforms, following up on audit recommendations and overhauling the state’s digital infrastructure and its procurement process — services Mahan described as “clunky and cumbersome.”

From Los Angeles Times

It is no different for a gallon of gas—except that today a car goes farther per gallon than what we achieved back then in our clunky gas guzzlers.

From The Wall Street Journal

After assuming his role, Michael reviewed the Pentagon’s contract with Anthropic and found it relied on the AI company giving the department exceptions for using its tools in certain military scenarios, a clunky process.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• bulky
• burdensome
• embarrassing
• heavy
• inconvenient
• ponderous
• tiresome
• unwieldy