1
as in uncomfortable
lacking social grace and assurance
inelegant teens still learning how to act at formal events
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in inappropriate
marked by an obvious lack of style or good taste
inelegant furniture that looked like it belonged in a budget motel
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples of inelegant in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
And something about the disconnect between how far-reaching our thoughts and emotions and ideas can be within our heads, and yet we’re confined to these weird kind of fleshy things that go wrong and need maintaining in a messy and inelegant way.
—
Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2024
In this thoroughly elegant and subdued film, Mr. Tu’s mention of an enzyme that penetrates a cell — an evident illustration of how Shuo gained access to their home — may seem like the most inelegant note, until late in the story the one using pity to gain sympathy is someone else.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 22 Jan. 2024
The battery pack is probably the most inelegant element of what is an otherwise unblemished product.
—Lauren Goode, WIRED, 18 Jan. 2024
But, instead of smoothly exiting stage left, the President takes an inelegant nosedive.
—Clare Malone, The New Yorker, 25 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for inelegant 
Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2024
In this thoroughly elegant and subdued film, Mr. Tu’s mention of an enzyme that penetrates a cell — an evident illustration of how Shuo gained access to their home — may seem like the most inelegant note, until late in the story the one using pity to gain sympathy is someone else.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 22 Jan. 2024
The battery pack is probably the most inelegant element of what is an otherwise unblemished product.
—Lauren Goode, WIRED, 18 Jan. 2024
But, instead of smoothly exiting stage left, the President takes an inelegant nosedive.
—Clare Malone, The New Yorker, 25 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for inelegant
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'inelegant.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Thesaurus Entries Near inelegant
Cite this Entry
“Inelegant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inelegant. Accessed 1 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share