clunker

noun

clunk·​er ˈkləŋ-kər How to pronounce clunker (audio)
Synonyms of clunkernext
1
: an old or badly working piece of machinery
especially : a dilapidated automobile
2
: someone or something notably unsuccessful
told a joke that was a real clunker

Synonyms of clunker

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Examples of clunker in a Sentence

My first car was an old clunker that kept breaking down. That joke was a real clunker. The director's recent films have all been clunkers.
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.
This, more than anything, is why the Phillies demoted him after a nightmarish two-inning clunker June 17. — Matt Gelb, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026 While Whisenhunt had another clunker, fellow rookies Bryce Eldridge and Trent Harris had impressive nights. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2026 The Connecticut rapper’s debut swings from tongue-in-cheek provocations to slam-poetry clunkers, landing a few solid punchlines and pop hooks along the way. — Lily Goldberg, Pitchfork, 3 Aug. 2026 The album is strikingly consistent, with no true clunker in the bunch, though some tunes are more memorable than others. — ABC News, 8 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for clunker

Word History

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of clunker was in 1930

Rhymes for clunker

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Browse Nearby Words

clunk
clunker
clunky
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Cite this Entry

“Clunker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clunker. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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