clunker

[kluhng-ker]

noun

Informal.

1. something worthless or inferior.

2. Also klunker an old, worn-out vehicle or machine, especially a car.

3. clunk.

clunker

/ ˈklʌŋkə /

noun

1. a dilapidated old car or other machine

2. something that fails

   the novel's last line is a clunker

Word History and Origins

Origin of clunker¹

1940–45, clunk + -er ¹; clinker ¹

Example Sentences

Game 3 was a one-sided clunker, but Game 1, Game 2 and Game 4 all went to sudden-death OT —hockey’s equivalent of dangling you over a bridge by your shoelaces while laughing maniacally.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

If the Dodgers win, they move on to the NL Championship Series, where Kershaw could get a chance to end his career on a more sonorous note than the clunker he played Wednesday.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Instead of building another championship team, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman constructed an all-time clunker.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The challenge will be replicating that formula over the season’s final month, and ensuring Sunday’s gut-check victory is not wasted on clunkers marred by self-inflicted mistakes.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

In a clunker of a season opener, they couldn’t tackle on defense or consistently move the ball on offense behind new quarterback Nico Iamaleava.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• auto 
• automobile 
• bus 
• convertible 
• jeep 
• limousine 
• machine 
• motor 
• pickup 
• ride 
• station wagon 
• truck 
• van 
• wagon