clunker

noun

clunk·​er ˈkləŋ-kər 

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

Synonyms

• beater
• crate
• jalopy
• junker

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

Such situations, however, are where Buehler has thrived in his postseason career (last week’s six-run clunker against the San Diego Padres aside). —Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2024

There was also a clunker in there when the Rams were embarrassed by the Arizona Cardinals. —Jay Paris, Forbes, 19 Oct. 2024

But you’re not doomed to a lifetime of orthopedic clunkers. —Kristin Canning, SELF, 9 Oct. 2024

Yamamoto’s first three starts back had gotten progressively less impressive, following up a pair of four-inning efforts earlier this month with a three-inning, four-run clunker against the Rockies in Los Angeles last week. —Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined at sense 1