How Do You Spell UNGRACEFUL?

Pronunciation: [ʌnɡɹˈe͡ɪsfə͡l] (IPA)

The word "ungraceful" is spelled with the prefix "un-" and the root word "graceful". The phonetic transcription of this word is /ʌnˈɡreɪsfəl/. The prefix "un-" means "not", and is pronounced with a short vowel sound followed by the consonant /n/. The root word "graceful" is pronounced with the long "a" sound followed by the consonants /ɡ/, /r/, /eɪ/, /s/, and /f/, and ends with the unstressed syllable /əl/. Together, these sounds form the word "ungraceful" to describe something lacking in elegance or poise.

UNGRACEFUL Meaning and Definition

  1. Ungraceful is an adjective used to describe someone or something that lacks elegance, poise, or finesse in their movements, actions, or overall demeanor. It signifies the absence of grace, which is typically characterized by smoothness, fluidity, and a certain charm.

    When used to describe a person, ungraceful suggests a lack of coordination and agility, resulting in clumsiness or awkwardness in their movements. This could manifest in stumbling, tripping, or bumping into objects or people. An ungraceful individual may struggle with maintaining balance or displaying the fluidity that is often associated with gracefulness. Their gestures might appear jerky or uncontrolled, diminishing their overall physical composure.

    In terms of behavior, an ungraceful person may lack tact or subtlety, tending to act without consideration for the effect it may have on others. This could mean speaking or behaving bluntly, without finesse or diplomacy. Social graces such as politeness, charm, and sophistication may be lacking in their interactions, resulting in an overall lack of refinement in social settings.

    Similarly, when applied to an object or action, ungraceful implies a lack of aesthetic appeal. It suggests that the object or action is not visually pleasing or harmonious in its execution. For example, an ungraceful dance routine may be disjointed and lacking fluidity, while an ungraceful painting may exhibit clumsy brushstrokes or an overall lack of artistic finesse.

    Overall, ungraceful refers to the absence of grace and elegance, whether in terms of physicality, behavior, or aesthetics.

  2. Not marked with ease and dignity; wanting beauty and elegance.

    Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for UNGRACEFUL

Etymology of UNGRACEFUL

The word "ungraceful" is derived from the combination of the prefix "un-" (meaning "not") and the adjective "graceful".

"Graceful" comes from the noun "grace", which can be traced back to the Latin word "gratia". "Gratia" originally referred to beauty, kindness, favor, or charm. In Late Latin, it took on the additional meaning of approval or favor. From there, it entered Old French as "grace", which had a similar range of meanings. In English, "grace" developed to encompass elegance, beauty, charm, and smoothness of movement, and the adjective "graceful" emerged to describe someone or something possessing these qualities.

The addition of the negative prefix "un-" before "graceful" creates the word "ungraceful", expressing the opposite or negation of gracefulness.

Similar spelling words for UNGRACEFUL

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