Clunkiness

Clunkiness refers to the quality of being awkward, heavy, or lacking grace and smoothness. It often implies a lack of refinement, a cumbersome or clumsy nature, or a design or execution that feels unsophisticated or poorly integrated. This can apply to physical objects, movements, processes, or even abstract concepts like writing style or software interfaces. It suggests a degree of inefficiency or a lack of elegance, leading to a sense of something being difficult to handle or use. The clunkiness often stems from a lack of attention to detail or an attempt to appear sophisticated when it is not the case. It is a subjective experience, as what one person perceives as clunky, another might find charmingly rustic.

Clunkiness meaning with examples

• The new software update was criticized for its clunkiness; the navigation was slow, and the interface felt unintuitive. Users were frustrated with the multiple steps required to perform simple tasks, a stark contrast to the streamlined experience of the previous version. This led many to revert back to using the older, more familiar, version, highlighting the importance of user-centered design.
• Despite the designer's ambition, the prototype robot had a certain clunkiness to its movements. The gears ground loudly, and the limbs seemed to operate with a lack of coordination. This lack of grace contrasted with the futuristic vision the designer hoped to achieve. This physical awkwardness highlighted the technical challenges in building a machine that perfectly replicates human movement.
• The author's first draft suffered from a clunkiness of style, with overly long sentences and frequent awkward phrasing. The editor worked to streamline the prose, tightening sentences and improving flow. This improved the readability and impact of the story, transforming the original cumbersome style into something much more engaging.
• The antique car, though beautiful in appearance, possessed a certain clunkiness. The steering was heavy, the brakes were slow to respond, and changing gears required significant effort. While charming, the drive lacked the ease of modern vehicles. Nevertheless, it holds a sentimental value.
• During the product's initial launch, the website's clunkiness made it hard for users to place orders. The website often crashed. The overall experience was poor, turning away customers. This hampered the product's sales, requiring the tech team to address the situation to maintain success.