Ungainly

Pronunciation: /ʌnˈɡeɪnli/

Definitions of ungainly

adjective awkward or clumsy in movement or shape

Example Sentences

A1 The puppy tried to run, but its ungainly legs kept tripping it up.

A2 She attempted to dance, but her ungainly movements made her self-conscious.

B1 The new employee was eager to impress, but his ungainly mannerisms made him stand out for the wrong reasons.

B2 The gymnast's routine was flawless except for one ungainly landing at the end.

C1 Despite his ungainly appearance, the actor had a captivating presence on stage.

C2 The artist's sculpture was criticized for its ungainly proportions, but some saw beauty in its unconventional form.

Examples of ungainly in a Sentence

formal The ungainly structure of the building made it difficult to navigate.

informal She tripped over her own feet, looking quite ungainly in the process.

slang The way he danced was so ungainly, it was hilarious!

figurative Her ungainly attempt to juggle multiple tasks at once led to chaos.

Grammatical Forms of ungainly

• past tense: ungainlied
• plural: ungainlies
• comparative: more ungainly
• superlative: most ungainly
• present tense: ungainly
• future tense: will be ungainly
• perfect tense: have been ungainly
• continuous tense: is being ungainly
• singular: ungainly
• positive degree: ungainly
• infinitive: to be ungainly
• gerund: ungainliness
• participle: ungainly

Origin and Evolution of ungainly

First Known Use: 0014 year

Language of Origin: Middle English

Story behind the word: The word 'ungainly' originated from Middle English, derived from the Old Norse word 'ungagnlig', meaning 'not fit to go against'.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the meaning of 'ungainly' has shifted from 'not fit to go against' to 'awkward or clumsy in movement or appearance'.