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Definition of ungainly

ungainly

/ʌnˈɡeɪn.li/
un · gain · ly
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ungainly Lexical Profile

ungainly Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Awkward, clumsy, or lacking grace in movement, posture, or physical form; difficult to handle or manage because of size or shape.

Example

"The newborn giraffe took a few ungainly steps across the enclosure before finally finding its balance."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for ungainly
Antonyms
View all antonyms for ungainly

Word Nuance & Usage

Although 'ungainly' ends in '-ly', it functions almost exclusively as an adjective rather than an adverb. Furthermore, its positive counterpart 'gainly' (meaning graceful or shapely) has become rare in modern English, making 'ungainly' a classic example of an unpaired word.

• Rhymes for ungainly

• Nearby Words

unfussed
unfussy
ungainliness
ungainly
ungarnished
ungated
ungathered

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in the early 17th century from the negative prefix 'un-' and the now-rare adjective 'gainly' (meaning graceful or convenient), which derives from the Old Norse word 'gegn', meaning straight, direct, or helpful.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Ungainly. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/ungainly
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