Clunky describes something awkward, heavy, or ungainly in how it works, moves, or looks. A clunky old computer might take forever to start up and make grinding noises. Clunky boots feel heavy and hard to walk in, making you stomp rather than glide. When writing feels clunky, the sentences are awkward and hard to read, bumping along instead of flowing smoothly.

The word often suggests something wasn't designed well or has become outdated. A clunky robot in a movie might lumber around stiffly instead of moving naturally. A clunky solution to a math problem works but takes way too many steps.

You can hear the meaning in the word itself: clunk is the sound of something heavy dropping or banging. Clunky things feel like that sound: graceless, heavy, and inelegant. A sleek new racing bike flows smoothly over the road, while a clunky old bike with rusty chains and bent wheels rattles and clanks with every pedal stroke.