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
-
Pride should come from your willingness to improve, not from resisting uncomfortable truths.—
Johnny C. Taylor Jr,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Dry air can be harmful and uncomfortable, but the LEVOIT Top Fill Humidifier can address that in any room of your home.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
But it’s played sincerely, so the visual contrast just makes the connection feel clumsy, if not outright absurd.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
23 Mar. 2026
-
McGee meets one of a clumsy TURF intern Pete, who is revealed to be Olivia's 18-year-old son, Matteo (Patrick Keleher) under interrogation.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
So Pakistan is already in an awkward position because the Saudis are being attacked.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Lock down the logistics first The fastest way to kill trip momentum is skipping the awkward conversations.—
Lauren Schuster,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
That neighbor also raised concerns about security, saying fewer on-site resources and changes in how calls are handled have left some people feeling uneasy.—
Daniel Wilkerson,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
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As the war in Iran stretches into a fifth week, investors who had been hopeful for a quick resolution are growing increasingly uneasy about the real-world fallout from the conflict.—
Tanaya Macheel,
CNBC,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ungraceful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ungraceful. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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