inelegance

I1N1E1L1E1G2A1N1C3E1

noun

The state or quality of being inelegant; lack of grace, refinement, beauty, or polish in language, composition, or manners.

“The inelegance of the ugly duckling stood in contrast to its ultimate life as a swan.”

Similar
awkwardnessbluntnessclumsinessgracelessnesshomeliness
Opposite
elegance
OriginMiddle French inélégance ← Late Latin inelegantia →
Scrabble 13
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Meanings

nouninelegance (usually uncountable, plural inelegances)

plural inelegances

  1. uncountableusuallyThe state or quality of being inelegant; lack of grace, refinement, beauty, or polish in language, composition, or manners.

    The inelegance of the ugly duckling stood in contrast to its ultimate life as a swan.

    Synonyms: awkwardness, bluntness, clumsiness, gracelessness, homeliness

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe state or quality of being inelegant; lack of grace, refinement, beauty, or polish in language, composition, or manners.

Similar
awkwardnessbluntnessclumsinessgracelessnesshomeliness

More synonyms by meaning

nounthe quality of lacking refinement and good taste

Opposite
elegance
Broader
quality
Also see
awkwardness

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Late Latininelegantia
  2. Middle Frenchinélégance
  3. Englishinelegance

From Middle French inélégance, from Late Latin inelegantia.

More words from Middle French, Late Latin

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

inelegance. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/inelegance

MLA

“inelegance.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/inelegance. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “inelegance,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/inelegance.

Source: inelegance on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.