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
clumsy
adjective
1
as in awkward
lacking or showing a lack of nimbleness in using one's hands diamond cutting is no job for a clumsy person Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- awkward
- unhandy
- ham-fisted
- maladroit
- graceless
- cack-handed
- ham-handed
- butterfingered
- uncoordinated
- handless
- heavy-handed
- all thumbs
- inept
- bungling
- unskilled
- gauche
- left-handed
- inexpert
- unskillful
- bunglesome
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- dextrous
- dexterous
- deft
- handy
- skilled
- skillful
- expert
- sure-handed
- masterly
- coordinated
2
as in klutzy
having or showing an inability to move in a graceful manner a clumsy bow clumsy on the dance floor Synonyms & Similar Words
- awkward
- klutzy
- uncoordinated
- ungainly
- gawky
- unsteady
- shuffling
- graceless
- wobbly
- lumbering
- gawkish
- lubberly
- shambling
- lumpish
- galumphing
- wabbly
- larruping
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- graceful
- coordinated
- nimble
- lithe
- lissom
- light
- lissome
- light-footed
- sure-footed
- light-foot
3
as in uncomfortable
lacking social grace and assurance felt clumsy in the unfamiliar uniform Synonyms & Similar Words
- awkward
- uncomfortable
- uneasy
- ungraceful
- inelegant
- embarrassed
- timid
- wooden
- gauche
- stilted
- graceless
- stiff
- rustic
- ungainly
- upset
- nervous
- gawky
- flustered
- disturbed
- meek
- clownish
- angular
- lubberly
- agitated
- uncouth
- boorish
- rustical
- rough-hewn
- unsettled
- diffident
- discomfited
- discomforted
- disconcerted
- jumpy
- abashed
- distressed
- bothered
- modest
- unhinged
- unassertive
- insecure
- mortified
- perturbed
- nonplussed
- chagrined
- unassuming
- dismayed
- discomposed
- rattled
- jittery
- disquieted
- discountenanced
- self-conscious
- fazed
- unpretentious
- nonplused
- self-doubting
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- graceful
- suave
- urbane
- confident
- composed
- collected
- cool
- calm
- serene
- secure
- unperturbed
- placid
- undisturbed
- poised
- tranquil
- assured
- self-assured
- self-confident
- self-possessed
4
as in bungling
showing or marked by a lack of skill and tact (as in dealing with a situation) a clumsy joke Synonyms & Similar Words
- awkward
- bungling
- inexperienced
- inept
- botched
- careless
- sloppy
- maladroit
- fumbled
- incompetent
- inexpert
- inefficient
- amateurish
- ineffectual
- unprofessional
- unpolished
- unskilled
- amateur
- tactless
- crude
- unskillful
- ineffectual
- undiplomatic
- ineffective
- misguided
- tacky
- misdirected
- green
- ill-advised
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- adroit
- deft
- facile
- clever
- dexterous
- capable
- dextrous
- skillful
- professional
- adept
- competent
- skilled
- able
- proficient
- talented
- polished
- easy
- expert
- masterful
- accomplished
- diplomatic
- masterly
- smooth
- consummate
- effortless
- gracious
- tactful
- crackerjack
5
as in cumbersome
difficult to use or operate especially because of size, weight, or design a clumsy contraption, but it got the job done Synonyms & Similar Words
- awkward
- cumbersome
- clunky
- unwieldy
- ungainly
- ponderous
- unhandy
- cumbrous
- heavy
- impractical
- cranky
- massive
- bulky
- unmanageable
- bunglesome
- uncontrollable
- dinosauric
- hulking
- elephantine
- impracticable
- dinosaurian
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- practical
- useful
- handy
- functional
- serviceable
- practicable
6
as in rude
hastily or roughly constructed a clumsy mock-up of the real thing Synonyms & Similar Words
- rude
- crude
- rough
- flawed
- imperfect
- artless
- rudimentary
- defective
- primitive
- unrefined
- unfinished
- amateur
- imprecise
- rough-and-ready
- jerry-built
- jerry-rigged
- amateurish
- rough-and-tumble
- inartistic
- jury-rigged
- rough-hewn
- faulty
- inexact
- unpolished
- unskilled
- unprofessional
- inexpert
- unskillful
- undressed
- unshaped
- unworked
- unshapen
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- perfect
- meticulous
- refined
- flawless
- skillful
- adept
- polished
- dextrous
- dexterous
- faultless
- neat
- adroit
- sophisticated
- perfected
- workmanlike
- finished
- masterful
- expert
- artful
- artistic
- masterly
- practised
- precise
- practiced
- well-done
- exact
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of clumsy are awkward, gauche, inept, and maladroit. While all these words mean "not marked by ease (as of performance, movement, or social conduct)," clumsy implies stiffness and heaviness and so may connote inflexibility, unwieldiness, or lack of ordinary skill.
a clumsy mechanic
The words awkward and clumsy can be used in similar contexts, but awkward is widely applicable and may suggest unhandiness, inconvenience, lack of muscular control, embarrassment, or lack of tact.
periods of awkward silence
Although the words gauche and clumsy have much in common, gauche implies the effects of shyness, inexperience, or ill breeding.
felt gauche and unsophisticated at formal parties
While the synonyms inept and clumsy are close in meaning, inept often implies complete failure or inadequacy.
a hopelessly inept defense attorney
In some situations, the words maladroit and clumsy are roughly equivalent. However, maladroit suggests a tendency to create awkward situations.
a maladroit politician
- multimegawatts
- multimember
- multimember constituency
- multimember district
- multimetallic
- multimeter
- multimeters
- multimillion
- multimillionaire
- multimillionaires
- multimillionairess
- multimillionairesses
- multimillions
- multimodal
- multimode
- multimolecular
- multination
- multinational
- multinationalism
- multinationalisms
- multinationals
- multinomial
- Ahern
- ahey
- ahh