What does ungraceful mean?
Ungraceful is an adjective meaning awkward, clumsy, or lacking elegance and controlled movement. It is especially common when describing a person's physical movements, such as an ungraceful walk, landing, or fall, but it can also characterize writing, behavior, or a social departure. The word is mildly negative: it suggests a lack of polish or composure rather than necessarily indicating a serious fault. An ungraceful action may be harmless and even humorous, as when someone trips while trying to appear poised. In other contexts, calling a remark or exit ungraceful can suggest that it was tactless, abrupt, or socially awkward. The term is natural in both British and American English and contrasts with graceful, elegant, or deft.
adjectiveLacking grace, elegance, or controlled movement; awkward or inelegant in appearance, manner, or behavior.
- Lacking grace, elegance, or controlled movement
- Awkward, clumsy, or tactless in manner or behavior
"She made an ungraceful attempt to catch the ball and knocked over a chair."
"His ungraceful landing drew a few laughs from the audience."
"The apology was ungraceful and made an already difficult conversation worse."
An ungraceful moment can happen in a split second: a dancer's polished turn becomes an awkward stumble.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does ungraceful come from?
Ungraceful was formed in English by combining the prefix un- with graceful. Grace ultimately comes through Old French from Latin gratia, a word associated with favor, goodwill, gratitude, and pleasant quality. Related English words such as grateful, gracious, gratitude, and gratify preserve elements of this same Latin root.
Related word forms
How ungraceful is actually used
Common in British and American English. It can describe physical movements, writing, social behavior, or an abrupt or tactless departure. It is generally negative but is less strongly moral than words such as disgraceful.
Easily confused with ungraceful
Ungraceful means awkward, inelegant, or lacking graceful movement, whereas disgraceful means shameful or deserving of strong disapproval.