ungainly

/ʌnˈɡeɪnli/ (bre, ipa) · [ənɡˈenli] /ʌnˈɡeɪnli/ (ame, ipa) · [ənɡˈenli] /ˌən-ˈgān-lē How to pronounce ungainly (audio)/ (ame, mw)

ungainly — adjective

  • ungainlypositive
  • more ungainlycomparative
  • most ungainlysuperlative

1. moving or standing in a heavy, awkward way that lacks easy control or balance.

1.形容詞C1
釋義

moving or standing in a heavy, awkward way that lacks easy control or balance.

例句

Christopher looked ungainly climbing over the low garden fence in dress shoes.

look + ungainly for awkward physical movement

The young giraffe seemed ungainly as it folded its legs under its body.

predicate adjective with animal movement

同義詞
  • clumsy

    the closest everyday synonym; broader and less vivid

  • awkward

    broader; can describe social situations as well as movement

  • gawky

    often suggests a tall, loose-limbed, youthful look

  • lumbering

    emphasizes slow, heavy movement more than lack of grace

反義詞
  • graceful

    moving in a smooth, attractive way

  • agile

    focuses on quick, easy control of the body

  • poised

    suggests steady balance and controlled posture

文法句型

look/seem/feel + ungainly

an ungainly + person/animal/movement

用法筆記

Often used for tall bodies, new physical skills, or animals whose movements are hard to control smoothly. Distinguish from sense 2, which describes awkward objects rather than people or animals moving.

常見錯誤

❌My answer sounded ungainly in class.
✅My answer sounded awkward in class.
💡'ungainly' usually describes physical movement or posture, not speech or ideas.

2. large, awkwardly shaped, or badly balanced in a way that makes something trouble

2.形容詞C1
釋義

large, awkwardly shaped, or badly balanced in a way that makes something troublesome to carry, move, or use.

例句

Gabriel returned the ungainly vacuum because it barely fit in his closet.

ungainly + household object

The movers struggled with an ungainly sofa on the narrow apartment stairs.

ungainly object in a difficult moving situation

同義詞
  • unwieldy

    the nearest formal match; stresses difficulty in controlling an object

  • cumbersome

    often suggests something annoyingly large or inconvenient

  • bulky

    focuses more on size than on awkward balance or shape

  • awkward

    broader and less specific; can also describe people or situations

反義詞
  • compact

    small enough to fit and move easily

  • streamlined

    smoothly shaped for easy movement or use

  • handy

    easy to pick up, store, or operate

文法句型

an ungainly + object/furniture/machine

feel/look + ungainly in + space

用法筆記

Usually modifies furniture, tools, clothes, or equipment that are bulky, unbalanced, or oddly shaped. Distinguish from sense 1, which focuses on clumsy movement or posture rather than the object itself.

常見錯誤

❌The hallway was ungainly, so the sofa could not pass.
✅The sofa was ungainly, so it could not pass through the hallway.
💡'ungainly' usually describes the hard-to-move object, not the space around it.