ungainly

Examples

• All

• But within seconds, the buzzard's smooth flight turned into an ungainly struggle, and it eventually fell to the ground.

  Academic text (1991)

• I believed I could feel the sharp stabbing pains in his legs, bearing the weight of his ungainly body.

  Fiction book (1997)

• Moving around his small kitchen, he had an ungainly grace -- if such a thing can be.

  Fiction book (1998)

• For the first time, he was touched by this ungainly man.

  Fiction book (1993)

• "An ungainly smile made him look even younger than his twenty-three years."

  Fiction book (2001)

• Over it, a line of ungainly, prehistoric shapes lumbered against the sun.

  Fiction book (1998)

• Nils Isaksen shuffled his ungainly feet on the moist path.

  Fiction book (1998)

• Maguire sucked in his cheeks and his ungainly shoulders went slack.

  Fiction book (1993)

• It was an ungainly- looking contraption and it was meant to imitate the L.M., the Lunar Module.

  In the Shadow of the Moon (2007)

• The child made an ungainly attempt to climb the steep hill, tripping over his own feet.

Synonyms

C

clumsy

vsungainly

73 1.2

Moving in an awkward, unsteady way that causes accidents

also includes large or poorly shaped things that are hard to manage

A

awkward

vsungainly

33 3.0

Not graceful in movement or action

also refers to things hard to handle because of size or poor control

U

unwieldy

vsungainly

16 6.7

Hard to move because it is large, heavy, or oddly shaped

also describes poor-looking movement or lack of smoothness in people

C

clunky

vsungainly

16 5.5

Something awkward and heavy in movement or design that is hard to use

more often applies to movement or handling difficulties rather than only looks

U

uncoordinated

vsungainly

6 4.8

Not able to move with control so movements look clumsy

is broader, also covering objects and shapes that are hard to manage

G

gawky

vsungainly

5 6.5

Moving or standing in a clumsy way

also covers objects or sizes that make handling difficult

G

graceless

vsungainly

4 4.6

Awkward and clumsy in movement or social behavior

is also used for objects or shapes that are hard to handle

C

cumbersome

vsungainly

4 7.1

Awkward and hard to read or listen to because of long, heavy language

also covers lack of smoothness in movement or human form

K

klutzy

vsungainly

• Informal

2 7.5

Moving awkwardly and often causing small accidents or embarrassment

is more neutral, referring to lack of smooth movement or difficulty handling

U

ungraceful

vsungainly

1 4.9

Showing awkward, not smooth movement or shape

also applies to objects hard to move or oddly shaped

B

bunglesome

vsungainly

• Archaic

9.9

Hard to carry or move because it is large and awkward

also applies to people who move without grace rather than just objects

U

unhandy

vsungainly

5.2

Clumsy with hands when doing simple tasks

also applies to body movement or appearance that lacks smoothness

Antonyms

G

graceful

87 2.8

Movement that is smooth and attractive like a dancer or swan

A

agile

23 3.7

Able to move quickly and easily like a gymnast

C

coordinated

3.8

Able to move different parts of the body smoothly and accurately

How Graceful

graceful

87 2.8

ungainly

4 7.3

awkward

33 3.0

clumsy

12 2.2

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology