clunker

noun

clunk·​er ˈkləŋ-kər 

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

• crate

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

Same goes for Sonny Gray (two quality starts, two 4-inning clunkers), Ranger Suarez and Brayan Bello (both two bad games followed by a gem). —Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 19 Apr. 2026

Perhaps the 6-11 clunker was inevitable in some ways after five Super Bowl appearances in six seasons — and three straight — left the Chiefs playing 19 postseason games in that span. —Kansas City Star, 17 Apr. 2026

Randy Vásquez just had his first clunker on Wednesday after allowing two runs over his first three starts. —Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026

The Final Four was a bit of a clunker compared to the rest of the tournament, which was fantastic. —Kirk Bohls, Houston Chronicle, 7 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for clunker

• dunker
• hunker
• junker