Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [uhn-geyn-lee]
- /ʌnˈgeɪn li/
- /ʌnˈɡeɪn.li/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [uhn-geyn-lee]
- /ʌnˈgeɪn li/
Definitions of ungainly word
- adjective ungainly not graceful; awkward; unwieldy; clumsy: an ungainly child; an ungainly prose style. 1
- adverb ungainly in an awkward manner. 1
- adjective ungainly inelegant 1
- adjective ungainly If you describe a person, animal, or vehicle as ungainly, you mean that they look awkward or clumsy, often because they are big. 0
- adjective ungainly lacking grace when moving 0
- adjective ungainly difficult to move or use; unwieldy 0
Information block about the term
Origin of ungainly
First appearance:
before 1150 One of the 7% oldest English words
1150-1200; (adv.) Middle English ungeinliche, equivalent to un- un-1 + later Middle English geyn straight, well-disposed, handy (< Old Norse gegn straight, direct; compare Old Norse ūgegn unreasonable) + -liche -ly; (adj.) un-1 + obsolete gainly proper, becoming, gracious, Middle English gaynlych (geyn as above + -lych -ly); cf. gainly, again
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Ungainly
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
ungainly popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 77% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
This word is included in each student's vocabulary. Most likely there is at least one movie with this word in the title.
ungainly usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for ungainly
adj ungainly
- all thumbs — clumsy
- awkward — An awkward situation is embarrassing and difficult to deal with.
- butterfingered — a person who frequently drops things; clumsy person.
- cloddish — of, relating to, or resembling a clod or boor; doltish; stolid.
- clodhopping — loutish; boorish.
noun ungainly
- awkwardness — lacking skill or dexterity. Synonyms: clumsy, inept; unskillful, unhandy, inexpert. Antonyms: deft, adroit, skillful, dexterous; handy.
- boorishness — of or like a boor; unmannered; crude; insensitive.
- clumsiness — awkward in movement or action; without skill or grace: He is very clumsy and is always breaking things.
- crudeness — in a raw or unprepared state; unrefined or natural: crude sugar.
- gawkiness — awkward; ungainly; clumsy.
adjective ungainly
- clumpy — Clumpy means big and clumsy.
- cumbersome — Something that is cumbersome is large and heavy and therefore difficult to carry, wear, or handle.
- disgracious — Lacking grace; not pleasing; disagreeable.
- elephantine — Of, resembling, or characteristic of an elephant or elephants, especially in being large, clumsy, or awkward.
- maladroit — lacking in adroitness; unskillful; awkward; bungling; tactless: to handle a diplomatic crisis in a very maladroit way.
Antonyms for ungainly
adjective ungainly
- coordinated — well organized
Top questions with ungainly
- what does ungainly mean?
- what is the meaning of ungainly?
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with u
- Words starting with un
- Words starting with ung
- Words starting with unga
- Words starting with ungai
- Words starting with ungain
- Words starting with ungainl
- Words starting with ungainly