as in uncomfortable
lacking social grace and assurance
an ungraceful but well-meaning hostess
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Recent Examples of ungraceful
Is there an ungraceful way to age?
—
Lydia Price, PEOPLE, 30 Dec. 2025
For his part, Harman chooses allegiance to sentences so ungraceful that Kafka, as Coetzee suggests, might have written them in his sleep.
—Joy Williams, Harper's Magazine, 2 May 2024
Occasionally, the dialogue is ungraceful in connecting the lines between past and present.
—Washington Post, 6 Jan. 2022
Extra cuddles for the extremely ungraceful Flounder.
—Brenna Murphy, New York Times, 4 Jan. 2021
At best, President Donald Trump's exit from the White House is ungraceful.
—Arkansas Online, 29 Nov. 2020
Next spring will mark six years since Northland mall in Southfield closed for good after a long and ungraceful decline.
—Jc Reindl, Detroit Free Press, 19 Nov. 2020
Given that much time and his history of health, Cano could’ve endured even a fairly ungraceful decline and reached 3,000 hits and 400 home runs and shoo-in Hall of Fame status by his age-40 season when his deal runs up.
—Ted Berg, For The Win, 15 May 2018
Babcock launched himself in the crowd and immediately numerous audience members—including yours truly—took an ungraceful tumble.
—Efrain Dorado, RedEye Chicago, 7 Aug. 2017
Lydia Price, PEOPLE, 30 Dec. 2025
For his part, Harman chooses allegiance to sentences so ungraceful that Kafka, as Coetzee suggests, might have written them in his sleep.
—Joy Williams, Harper's Magazine, 2 May 2024
Occasionally, the dialogue is ungraceful in connecting the lines between past and present.
—Washington Post, 6 Jan. 2022
Extra cuddles for the extremely ungraceful Flounder.
—Brenna Murphy, New York Times, 4 Jan. 2021
At best, President Donald Trump's exit from the White House is ungraceful.
—Arkansas Online, 29 Nov. 2020
Next spring will mark six years since Northland mall in Southfield closed for good after a long and ungraceful decline.
—Jc Reindl, Detroit Free Press, 19 Nov. 2020
Given that much time and his history of health, Cano could’ve endured even a fairly ungraceful decline and reached 3,000 hits and 400 home runs and shoo-in Hall of Fame status by his age-40 season when his deal runs up.
—Ted Berg, For The Win, 15 May 2018
Babcock launched himself in the crowd and immediately numerous audience members—including yours truly—took an ungraceful tumble.
—Efrain Dorado, RedEye Chicago, 7 Aug. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ungraceful
Adjective
-
Vinod brought the long view and the uncomfortable predictions.—
Brian Solis,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
-
Say goodbye to uncomfortable underwear that digs.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 June 2026
Adjective
-
But a clumsy tackle and a penalty shootout later, and Arsenal left Budapest with nothing.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
-
Once in the water, where crocodiles have the home-ground advantage, large mammals become clumsy, oxygen-limited and vulnerable to rotational forces they are poorly equipped to resist.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
Indeed, a dying wish and a cryptic clue lead the unlikely duo on a journey full of twists and turns, bad choices, awkward conversations, lies, fights, mystery, betrayal, and a dangerous killer.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
1 June 2026
-
Stakeholder facilitation and consensus-building bridge communication gaps and ease awkward conversations about one’s own compensation.—
Jim Hebets,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Adjective
-
Until these vexing unknowns are figured out, AI for mental health will be in an uneasy position and subject to strident criticisms and concerns.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
-
Other Western media outlets, meanwhile, are growing more uneasy about what possible interviews with Lai could mean for their presence in China, The Associated Press reported.—
J.D. Capelouto,
semafor.com,
31 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ungraceful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ungraceful. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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