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.
In the end, Jim Harbaugh’s first playoff game as their coach was a clunker. Elliott Teaford, Orange County Register, 11 Jan. 2025 The 14-win Vikings should be plenty motivated to win on the road after losing the NFC North to the Lions with a clunker last Sunday night. Jeff Howe, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025 Before the Lakers delivered a pretty big clunker Tuesday night in Dallas, JJ Redick had some positive news about forward Vanderbilt, who has yet to make his season debut due to a pair of offseason foot surgeries. Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2025 Last Sunday, the Rockets laid a clunker at home against the Miami Heat, losing 104-100, in a game where tempers flared, earning forward Amen Thompson a two-game suspension after an altercation with Heat guard Tyler Herro. Rahat Huq, Forbes, 5 Jan. 2025 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 Feb. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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