clunker

noun

clunk·​er ˈkləŋ-kər How to pronounce clunker (audio)
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

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.
The Cleveland Browns, four days off a clunker that was embarrassing even by their standards in New Orleans, weren’t supposed to shove around the first-place Pittsburgh Steelers. Zac Jackson, The Athletic, 22 Nov. 2024 After throwing up clunkers from long range in the first half, Dayton attempted three 3s in the second half, hitting two of them. Mitch Stacy, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Feb. 2024 But, after briefly retreating to the clubhouse in the wake of his four-run clunker, the midseason trade acquisition trekked back to the dugout. Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2024 The episode had some really strong spots, some deep clunkers, and a lot of clips the Kamala HQ Twitter account is going to be reposting in the next few days. Rima Parikh, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near clunker

Cite this Entry

“Clunker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clunker. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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