Definition of UNGAINLY

ungainly

Meanings

Plural: ungainlies

Adjective Satellite

  • lacking grace in movement or posture
    • "a gawky lad with long ungainly legs"
    • "what an ungainly creature a giraffe is"
  • difficult to handle or manage especially because of shape
    • "the cello, a rather ungainly instrument for a girl"

Adj

  • Clumsy; lacking grace.
  • Difficult to move or to manage; unwieldy.
  • Unsuitable; unprofitable.

Noun

  • An ungainly person or thing.

Adv

  • In an ungainly or unbecoming manner; improperly; undeservedly, unduly; unsuitably.

Origin / Etymology

From un- (“not”) + gainly (“graceful; becoming; proper, suitable; gracious, kindly”) (from gain (“dexterous; convenient, easy, handy; suitable”), from Old Norse gegn (“fit, serviceable; direct, straight; honest; kindly”) + -ly (suffix forming adjectives from nouns)). Compare dialectal Norwegian Nynorsk ugjegnleg (“stubborn; troublesome”).

Scrabble Score: 12

ungainly is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
ungainly is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
ungainly is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 16

ungainly is a valid Words With Friends word