What is ungainly? How to use in English

Definition & pronunciation of ungainly

ungainlyadjective

vô duyên

/ʌnˈɡeɪnli//ʌnˈɡeɪnli/

Where does the word ungainly come from?

The word "ungainly" is derived from two Middle English words, "unchast" and "ly," that had separate meanings at that time. "Unchast" was an archaic word for "clumsy," which in turn was connected to the word "chaste" or "pure," as it was believed that true chastity was a sign of grace and gracefulness. The opposite, therefore, was clumsiness. The second part of the word, "ly," means "like" or "resembling," and it allowed the original meaning of "unchast" to be modified into a descriptive adjective. Thus, "ungainly" can be traced back to its Middle English roots and is defined as "lacking grace or elegance; awkward; clumsy." Its original meaning, therefore, was much broader, encompassing both physical and moral clumsiness, while its current form has lost some of its connections to chastity and grace.

Vocabulary summary ungainly

typeadjective & adverb

meaningclumsy, long waiting

meaninggraceless

Example of vocabulary ungainlynamespace

  • The plane made an ungainly landing as its wheels struggled to touch the ground due to the buffeting winds.
  • The baby elephant wobbled awkwardly as it took its first steps, its ungainly movements making it look more comical than majestic.
  • The boxer's jabs were ungainly as he lost his balance and stumbled backwards, allowing his opponent to throw a decisive blow.
  • The ungainly tree branch sagged under the weight of the snow and ice, threatening to snap at any moment.
  • The cyclist's attempt at a jump over the ramp ended in an ungainly fall as his wheels caught on the ramp's edge.

Synonyms and related words for ungainly

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