inelegant

adjective

in·​el·​e·​gant (ˌ)i-ˈne-li-gənt How to pronounce inelegant (audio)
: lacking in refinement, grace, or good taste
inelegantly adverb

Examples of inelegant in a Sentence

inelegant teens still learning how to act at formal events inelegant furniture that looked like it belonged in a budget motel
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Their ingenious creation — an unlikely combination of spacesuit parts, duct tape, and the suddenly obsolete mission plan — encapsulates the film in an inelegant nutshell. Richard Edwards, Space.com, 30 June 2025 In Dogma, however, there’s value in his casual, inelegant approach. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 June 2025 The obvious fix is a little bit of duct tape, an inelegant but quick repair with a resource that most households already have on hand. PC Magazine, 26 Mar. 2025 And, here’s the kicker, and the most annoying part: They are served in cardboard boxes, which makes eating them at a table inelegant at best. Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 9 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for inelegant

Word History

Etymology

Middle French, from Latin inelegant-, inelegans, from in- + elegant-, elegans elegant

First Known Use

circa 1570, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of inelegant was circa 1570

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Inelegant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inelegant. Accessed 17 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

inelegant

adjective
in·​el·​e·​gant (ˈ)in-ˈel-i-gənt How to pronounce inelegant (audio)
: lacking in grace or good taste
inelegantly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on inelegant

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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