1
as in uncomfortable
lacking social grace and assurance
inelegant teens still learning how to act at formal events
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in inappropriate
marked by an obvious lack of style or good taste
inelegant furniture that looked like it belonged in a budget motel
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of inelegant
That process is genial and inelegant in equal measure.
—
David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 17 Oct. 2024
The best Korean moisturizers and sunscreens introduced an American audience to the possibilities beyond staid formulations and inelegant sun protection, offering brand-new active ingredients, playful packaging, and innovative technology.
—Deanna Pai, Vogue, 28 Sep. 2024
In practice, these features are a bit wonky and inelegant.
—Victoria Song, The Verge, 21 Sep. 2024
Until recently, most observers were willing to settle for an accurate but inelegant description: that the countries are neither friends nor foes.
—Minxin Pei, Foreign Affairs, 12 Feb. 2014
See All Example Sentences for inelegant
David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 17 Oct. 2024
The best Korean moisturizers and sunscreens introduced an American audience to the possibilities beyond staid formulations and inelegant sun protection, offering brand-new active ingredients, playful packaging, and innovative technology.
—Deanna Pai, Vogue, 28 Sep. 2024
In practice, these features are a bit wonky and inelegant.
—Victoria Song, The Verge, 21 Sep. 2024
Until recently, most observers were willing to settle for an accurate but inelegant description: that the countries are neither friends nor foes.
—Minxin Pei, Foreign Affairs, 12 Feb. 2014
See All Example Sentences for inelegant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inelegant
Adjective
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After an Emanuel Sharp 3 made Duke officially uncomfortable (67-64, 33 seconds left), Tugler was one of three Houston players to tip a regrettable inbounds pass from James, setting off a frenzied sequence.—
Brendan Quinn,
New York Times,
6 Apr. 2025
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In addition to subjecting them to electric shocks for interrogations, guards would force prisoners to stand in uncomfortable positions and then hit them in the genitals or knock them to the ground, according to Shyshko.—
Patrick Reevell,
ABC News,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The league’s reason for not punishing Morant was understanding his intent behind the gesture wasn’t violent, but Morant was advised to refrain from using the inappropriate celebration.—
The Athletic NBA Staff,
New York Times,
4 Apr. 2025
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Is the ‘Minecraft’ movie inappropriate? Not particularly.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Raw also advertised Bayley challenging Lyra Valkyria for the WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship, Penta vs. Dominik Mysterio and the world’s most clumsy GM Adam Pearce making his next fumble of the worst storyline going this WrestleMania season between Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair and Iyo Sky.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
7 Apr. 2025
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This is why the Trump administration’s DOGE exercise — while clumsy at times — is such an important endeavor despite Democratic efforts to discredit it.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Although some posters online have suggested the streetlamp are emitting ultraviolet or black light, that's incorrect, Davis said.—
Elizabeth Weise,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2025
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When that happens, inferring eligibility based on the tax unit claiming the child would be incorrect.—
Elaine Maag,
Forbes.com,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Sisterhood in sports can come with awkward moments, though.—
Evan Drellich,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2025
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In fact, the timing of the 11th annual event in Santa Monica made for some awkward — even, some would say, problematic — optics and messaging for these celebrities.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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If the new wells prove unsuitable for city use, the city has a contingency plan designed for rehabilitation.—
Kyle Martin,
The Mercury News,
25 Mar. 2025
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Until now, scientists have generally thought that planets orbiting white dwarfs would be unsuitable for life because the dynamic temperature decrease of their dead parent star makes their atmospheres too unstable.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Inflation, perhaps stiffened by tariffs, and uncertainty over the future of the labor market have left consumers feeling uneasy.—
DeArbea Walker,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025
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But the Armageddon-level stakes of unrest in the region should make anyone uneasy about mishaps.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The movie takes its title for the unfashionable floater of a nearly unhittable pitch, long, high and vexing.—
Michael Phillips,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Mar. 2025
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King-Hammond suggested yet another factor: his focus on people, and not formalist ideas, was unfashionable in the eyes of art history’s shapers.—
Alex Greenberger,
ARTnews.com,
25 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inelegant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inelegant. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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