ungainly
ungainly
Definition
un·gainly (-gān′lē)
adjective
- awkward; clumsy
- coarse and unattractive
Etymology: ME ungeinliche < ungein, perilous (< un-, not + ON gegn, ready, serviceable, akin to OE gegn: see again) + -liche, -ly
adverb
Archaic in an ungainly manner
- ungarnished
- ungathered
un·gain′·li·ness noun
ungainly
Synonyms
ungainly
Usage Examples
Modifies a noun
- appearance: Despite its ungainly appearance it also has a fair turn of speed.
- fashion: You don't just lurch around the rink in an ungainly fashion any more.
- way: By 1.30 we were all making our ungainly way through the canals and crawls of the entrance passage.
- heap: Symonds staggered back and fell in an ungainly, unconscious heap on the floor.
- manner: Can she not see that my hair has flattened against head in ungainly manner?
- monster: Such a merger would produce an ungainly monster in which our standards would be seriously diluted.
Modifying Another Word
- somewhat: The design was sound if somewhat ungainly due to its flat sides.
- rather: These grand specimens had to endure a rather ungainly journey here on the back of an enormous, articulated lorry.
- so: He was so ungainly, so pimply about the head, so scaly about the legs, yet so serene, so unspeakably satisfied!
- slightly: With his slightly ungainly style, it was great to see him in full flight, top-knot billowing in the wind.
- little: For a man whose gait is a little ungainly, he has always possessed such delicacy of touch, such deft balance.
- quite: The speed of their attack is quite unexpected because they actually appear quite ungainly.
Used with adjective complement
- look: Unfortunately they appeared to be under-rehearsed and it looked pretty ungainly at times.
Browse dictionary entries near ungainly
- unfussy
- unfurl
- unfunded
- unfruitful
- unfrock
- unfriendly
- unfriended
- unfreeze
- unfounded
- unfortunately
- Ungava
- ungenerous
- ungentlemanly
- ungird
- ungirt
- unglue
- ungodly
- ungovernable
- ungracious
- ungraciously
