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Ungainly Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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ungainly

[ʌnˈɡeɪnli ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Adjective

awkward movement

Lacking grace or ease of movement; clumsy.

Synonyms

awkward, clumsy, ungraceful.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
ungainly

Describing something or someone that moves in an awkward or uncoordinated way; typically used for things or people that are large or out of proportion.

  • The huge bird looked ungainly as it struggled to take flight.
  • He made an ungainly attempt to climb the wall.
clumsy

Describing someone who frequently makes mistakes or has accidents due to a lack of physical coordination; carries a slightly negative connotation.

  • She's so clumsy, she always drops things.
  • He made a clumsy attempt to apologize.
awkward

Referring to a lack of physical coordination or grace, often causing difficulty or discomfort; commonly used in social situations to describe uncomfortable or embarrassing moments.

  • The dancer's awkward movements drew criticism.
  • Their conversation was filled with awkward silences.
ungraceful

Indicating a lack of elegance or smoothness in movement; often used to describe something or someone performing an action poorly or without finesse.

  • Despite her training, her movements were still ungraceful.
  • The ungraceful dive earned low scores from the judges.

Examples of usage

  • He was tall and ungainly, always knocking things over.
  • Her ungainly stride made it difficult to keep up with her.
Context #2 | Adjective

awkward appearance

Lacking elegance or refinement; awkward in appearance.

Synonyms

awkward, clumsy, ungraceful.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
ungainly

Used to describe someone or something that moves in a way that is not smooth or elegant, often making them seem uncomfortable.

  • The tall teenager felt ungainly on the dance floor.
  • The bird's ungainly landing made everyone laugh.
awkward

Describes situations or movements that are uncomfortable or lacking in coordination, often creating a feeling of embarrassment.

  • The conversation became awkward when no one knew what to say next.
  • He managed to carry the large box, although it was an awkward fit through the door.
clumsy

Used when someone is physically uncoordinated, often resulting in them breaking or dropping things.

  • She always felt clumsy while playing sports.
  • The clumsy waiter spilled the water all over the table.
ungraceful

Describes movements that lack elegance or smoothness, similar to 'ungainly' but can also imply a lack of poise.

  • His ungraceful attempt at ballet made everyone smile.
  • She apologized for her ungraceful exit from the room.

Examples of usage

  • The ungainly design of the building attracted mixed reviews.
  • His ungainly outfit made him stand out in the crowd.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Literature

  • In literature, characters described as ungainly often provide comic relief with their physical clumsiness.
  • Famous literary figures like Quasimodo from 'The Hunchback of Notre-Dame' embody 'ungainly' through their struggle with societal acceptance.

Pop Culture

  • The character of Shrek is often seen as ungainly, both in appearance and in his relationship dynamics, creating a humorous contrast with traditional fairy tale heroes.
  • Movies like 'Finding Nemo' use ungainly movements of certain sea creatures to add comedic elements; for instance, sea turtles who navigate awkwardly on land.

Psychology

  • Research shows that people often dismiss ungainly creatures or characters based on first impressions, affecting their popularity or likability.
  • The perception of ungainliness can lead to misunderstandings regarding a person's confidence or capabilities.

Art

  • 'Ungainly' figures often appear in modern art to express themes of vulnerability and raw human experiences, as seen in the works of artists like Alberto Giacometti.
  • In dance and theater, ungainly movements can be used intentionally to convey deeper emotional states or highlight contrasts with more graceful performances.

Origin of 'ungainly'

Main points about word origin

  • The word comes from Middle English 'ungain', which means 'ungraceful' or 'awkward'.
  • It has roots in the Old English word 'gain', meaning 'grace' or 'beauty', with 'un-' as a prefix denoting negation.

The word 'ungainly' originated from the Middle English 'ongaynly', which meant 'unfitting' or 'inconvenient'. Its usage evolved over time to describe something lacking grace or ease. The prefix 'un-' signifies negation, while 'gainly' is related to the word 'gain', indicating a lack of gain or advantage in terms of movement or appearance.

See also: gain, gainful, gainfully, gainfulness, gaining, regain.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #25,311, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.