clumsy
adjective
clum·sy ˈkləm-zē 
clumsier; clumsiest
1
a
: lacking dexterity, nimbleness, or grace
clumsy fingers
b
: lacking tact or subtlety
a clumsy joke
2
: 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 
Synonyms
- awkward
- butterfingered
- cack-handed [British]
- graceless
- ham-fisted
- ham-handed
- handless
- heavy-handed
- left-handed
- maladroit
- unhandy
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 At times, everything there can feel a little clumsy. 
Christian De Looper, BGR, 20 Jan. 2022 Their fingers, from excessive toil, are too clumsy and tremble too much for that. Jim Millercommunity Voices Contributor, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 June 2022 Along with vying for attention for outstanding comedy series, star Will Arnett, who plays the clumsy and hilarious detective Terry Seattle, will submit for lead actor (comedy). Clayton Davis, Variety, 13 June 2022 The old guaiacum test was very clumsy and uncertain. Roy Schwartz, CNN, 20 May 2022 Like many writers who want to sound hip, or punk, Maria eschews highfalutin words and complex sentences: her insights come off raw, even authentically clumsy. Stephanie Burt, The New Yorker, 20 June 2022 If your wine lover is clumsy handling that mini knife on the waiter’s wine key (or doesn’t have one), this ergonomically designed foil cutter saves frustration and fingers. Lana Bortolot, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2021 When Fendell asked Mackenzie about her bruises, Mackenzie offered vague comments about being clumsy. Rachel Aviv, The New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2022 Stalter plays Kayla, the clumsy assistant to their talent agent Jimmy (played by series co-creator Paul W. Downs). Lauren Valenti, Vogue, 25 May 2022 See More
Christian De Looper, BGR, 20 Jan. 2022 Their fingers, from excessive toil, are too clumsy and tremble too much for that. Jim Millercommunity Voices Contributor, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 June 2022 Along with vying for attention for outstanding comedy series, star Will Arnett, who plays the clumsy and hilarious detective Terry Seattle, will submit for lead actor (comedy). Clayton Davis, Variety, 13 June 2022 The old guaiacum test was very clumsy and uncertain. Roy Schwartz, CNN, 20 May 2022 Like many writers who want to sound hip, or punk, Maria eschews highfalutin words and complex sentences: her insights come off raw, even authentically clumsy. Stephanie Burt, The New Yorker, 20 June 2022 If your wine lover is clumsy handling that mini knife on the waiter’s wine key (or doesn’t have one), this ergonomically designed foil cutter saves frustration and fingers. Lana Bortolot, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2021 When Fendell asked Mackenzie about her bruises, Mackenzie offered vague comments about being clumsy. Rachel Aviv, The New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2022 Stalter plays Kayla, the clumsy assistant to their talent agent Jimmy (played by series co-creator Paul W. Downs). Lauren Valenti, Vogue, 25 May 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
probably from obsolete English clumse benumbed with cold
First Known Use
circa 1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Kids Definition
clumsy
adjective
clum·sy ˈkləm-zē
clumsier; clumsiest
1
: lacking skill or grace in movement
clumsy fingers
2
: awkwardly or carelessly made or done
a clumsy apology
a clumsy error
3
: awkward to handle
a clumsy package
clumsiness
noun
as in inexperience
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- inexperience
- unpreparedness
- incompetence
- ham-handedness
- inaptitude
- incompetency
- crudeness
- inability
- unskillfulness
- amateurishness
- heavy-handedness
- dilettantism
- amateurism
- inexpertness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- professionalism
- expertness
- competence
- ability
- masterfulness
- virtuosity
- skill
- talent
- masterliness
- polish
- proficiency
- finish
- adeptness
- skillfulness