clumsy

adjective

clum·sy ˈkləm-zē

clumsier; clumsiest

Synonyms of clumsy next

: lacking dexterity, nimbleness, or grace

clumsy fingers

: lacking tact or subtlety

a clumsy joke

: awkward or inefficient in use or construction : unwieldy

a clumsy contraption

criticized her sentence for its clumsy construction

clumsily

ˈkləm-zə-lē

adverb

clumsiness

ˈkləm-zē-nəs

noun

Choose the Right Synonym for clumsy

awkward, clumsy, maladroit, inept, gauche mean not marked by ease (as of performance, movement, or social conduct).

awkward is widely applicable and may suggest unhandiness, inconvenience, lack of muscular control, embarrassment, or lack of tact.

periods of awkward silence

clumsy implies stiffness and heaviness and so may connote inflexibility, unwieldiness, or lack of ordinary skill.

a clumsy mechanic

maladroit suggests a tendency to create awkward situations.

a maladroit politician

inept often implies complete failure or inadequacy.

a hopelessly inept defense attorney

gauche implies the effects of shyness, inexperience, or ill breeding.

felt gauche and unsophisticated at formal parties

Examples of clumsy in a Sentence

I'm sorry about spilling your wine—that was very clumsy of me. I have very clumsy hands and tend to drop things. She made a clumsy attempt at a joke.

Recent Examples on the Web Within an hour or two of ingesting it, young children under the age of 10 can become drowsy, clumsy, and out of balance. —

Julia Michie Bruckner, Discover Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024 But because the Oxford Five are all based on a single character and spend so much time talking each other through theories about what’s going on, scenes focused on them often feel the show taking a moment to spell out plot points in ways that feel clumsy and inorganic. —

Charles Pulliam-Moore, The Verge, 21 Mar. 2024 Rugged iPad Case for Kids Whether clumsy or busy, some kids seem to drop everything. —

Tanya Edwards, Parents, 13 Mar. 2024 Perhaps that’s why so much of this early new era of MLS has felt so clumsy, so ill-fitting and so unoriginal. —

Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2024 The labels of Catholic and Protestant have been left as a clumsy shorthand for the cultural and political divide. —

Megan Specia, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2024 Just the intentionally clumsy eating table—as opposed to dining table—shows how far from society Jackie has slipped. —

Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2024 The actress who spent five movies as clumsy YA heroine Bella Swan in the Twilight saga is far from enamored with the sparkling vampire at the center of the franchise. —

Shania Russell, EW.com, 26 Mar. 2024 Lazer has a heavy, heavy ATL twang, rooting his songs in his hometown—think Young Nudy crossed with Playboi Carti—but he’s also got an extremely clumsy delivery that tweaks the frequency slightly. —

Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 22 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'clumsy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

probably from obsolete English clumse benumbed with cold

First Known Use

circa 1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler

The first known use of clumsy was circa 1598

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Clumsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clumsy. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.

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Kids Definition

clumsy

adjective

clum·sy ˈkləm-zē

clumsier; clumsiest

: lacking skill or grace in movement

clumsy fingers

: showing social awkwardness or a lack of tact

a clumsy attempt at a joke

: awkwardly or poorly made : hard to use

a clumsy tool

clumsily

-zə-lē

adverb

clumsiness

-zē-nəs

noun

Last Updated: 14 Apr 2024 - Updated example sentences

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clumsy

adjective

Synonyms

Examples of clumsy in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near clumsy

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition