1
: an old or badly working piece of machinery
especially
: a dilapidated automobile
2
: someone or something notably unsuccessful
told a joke that was a real clunker
Examples of clunker in a Sentence
My first car was an old clunker that kept breaking down.
That joke was a real clunker.
The director's recent films have all been clunkers.
Recent Examples on the Web
San Antonio is markedly better than last year’s 22-win clunker — Victor Wembanyama is the clubhouse leader for Defensive Player of the Year, Chris Paul is averaging more than eight assists per game in his 20th season and this team is 8-4 in clutch games.
—
Steven Louis Goldstein, The Athletic, 25 Dec. 2024
Investors would consult a few economists, look at interest rates, and go for those companies making attractive vehicles and shun clunker makers.
—Neil Winton, Forbes, 29 Sep. 2024
The year 2025 is shaping up to be a confusing one for Californians unlucky enough to buy a new or used car that turns out to be a clunker.
—Calmatters, Orange County Register, 19 Dec. 2024
While the Buckeyes had a clunker against unranked Michigan and the fanbase is far from happy with Ryan Day following the coach’s fourth straight defeat at the hands of the Wolverines, their only other loss was at Oregon on Oct. 12 by a single point, 32-31.
—Tom Layberger, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for clunker 
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Steven Louis Goldstein, The Athletic, 25 Dec. 2024
Investors would consult a few economists, look at interest rates, and go for those companies making attractive vehicles and shun clunker makers.
—Neil Winton, Forbes, 29 Sep. 2024
The year 2025 is shaping up to be a confusing one for Californians unlucky enough to buy a new or used car that turns out to be a clunker.
—Calmatters, Orange County Register, 19 Dec. 2024
While the Buckeyes had a clunker against unranked Michigan and the fanbase is far from happy with Ryan Day following the coach’s fourth straight defeat at the hands of the Wolverines, their only other loss was at Oregon on Oct. 12 by a single point, 32-31.
—Tom Layberger, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for clunker
Dictionary Entries Near clunker
Cite this Entry
“Clunker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clunker. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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