inelegance

noun

in·​el·​e·​gance (ˌ)i-ˈne-li-gən(t)s How to pronounce inelegance (audio)
Synonyms of inelegancenext
: lack of elegance

Examples of inelegance in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
There are blatantly far-fetched thrillers, brilliant ones, that haunt us for decades in spite of their narrative inelegance or the quality of their gotchas. — Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 30 Sep. 2022 Keeping the battery charged avoids this morsel of powertrain inelegance. — Derek Powell, Car and Driver, 19 Jan. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

1726, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of inelegance was in 1726

Rhymes for inelegance

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Browse Nearby Words

inelastic scattering
inelegance
inelegancy
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Cite this Entry

“Inelegance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inelegance. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on inelegance

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for inelegance

Nglish: Translation of inelegance for Spanish Speakers

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