maladroit

adjective

mal·adroit ˌma-lə-ˈdrȯit How to pronounce maladroit (audio)

: lacking adroitness : inept

The governor has been criticized for his maladroit handling of the budget crisis.

maladroitly adverb

maladroitness noun

Did you know?

Maladroit Comes From Old and Middle French

To understand the origin of maladroit, you need to put together some Middle French and Old French building blocks. The first is the word mal, meaning "bad," and the second is the phrase a droit, meaning "properly." You can parse the phrase even further into the components a, meaning "to" or "at," and droit, meaning "right, direct, or straight." Middle French speakers put those pieces together as maladroit to describe the clumsy among them, and English speakers borrowed the word intact back in the 17th century. Its opposite, of course, is adroit, which we adopted from the French in the same century.

Example Sentences

The governor has been criticized for his maladroit handling of the budget crisis. some maladroit steering on her part caused the bicycle to go crashing into the bushes

Recent Examples on the Web Factor in a politically maladroit Afghan government and endemic corruption, and once the Taliban began to roll up government surrenders in the provinces, their offensive took on a life of its own.

The Editors, National Review, 15 Aug. 2021 The series is itself like a socially awkward teen-age nerd—charming but maladroit, heedless, a little exhausting.

Sarah Larson, The New Yorker, 10 May 2020 His own party criticizes what many call his maladroit communication on an anxiety-inducing subject.

Adam Nossiter, New York Times, 9 Dec. 2019 Playwrights Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon concoct for her a suitor who’s just as introverted and socially maladroit, the newly wealthy Arthur de Bourgh.

Dominic P. Papatola, Twin Cities, 24 Nov. 2019 Equally maladroit was her debate decision to wrap herself in an unpopular policy that ended 20 years ago.

George Will, National Review, 7 July 2019 Equally maladroit was her debate decision to wrap herself in an unpopular policy that ended 20 years ago.

George Will, Twin Cities, 7 July 2019 Hicks bungled his hijacking of the Johnson, however, and proved maladroit at escaping, leaving a clear trail of evidence along his getaway route.

Rinker Buck, WSJ, 28 June 2019 Trump may have been typically maladroit at actually executing on this policy view, but that’s a side issue.

Michael Hiltzik, latimes.com, 12 June 2018 See More

单词	maladroitness
释义	maladroit adjective mal·adroit ˌma-lə-ˈdrȯit : lacking adroitness : inept The governor has been criticized for his maladroit handling of the budget crisis. maladroitly adverb maladroitness noun Did you know? Maladroit Comes From Old and Middle French To understand the origin of maladroit, you need to put together some Middle French and Old French building blocks. The first is the word mal, meaning "bad," and the second is the phrase a droit, meaning "properly." You can parse the phrase even further into the components a, meaning "to" or "at," and droit, meaning "right, direct, or straight." Middle French speakers put those pieces together as maladroit to describe the clumsy among them, and English speakers borrowed the word intact back in the 17th century. Its opposite, of course, is adroit, which we adopted from the French in the same century. Synonyms awkward butterfingered cack-handed [British] clumsy graceless ham-fisted ham-handed handless heavy-handed left-handed unhandy See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences The governor has been criticized for his maladroit handling of the budget crisis. some maladroit steering on her part caused the bicycle to go crashing into the bushes Recent Examples on the Web Factor in a politically maladroit Afghan government and endemic corruption, and once the Taliban began to roll up government surrenders in the provinces, their offensive took on a life of its own. The Editors, National Review, 15 Aug. 2021 The series is itself like a socially awkward teen-age nerd—charming but maladroit, heedless, a little exhausting. Sarah Larson, The New Yorker, 10 May 2020 His own party criticizes what many call his maladroit communication on an anxiety-inducing subject. Adam Nossiter, New York Times, 9 Dec. 2019 Playwrights Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon concoct for her a suitor who’s just as introverted and socially maladroit, the newly wealthy Arthur de Bourgh. Dominic P. Papatola, Twin Cities, 24 Nov. 2019 Equally maladroit was her debate decision to wrap herself in an unpopular policy that ended 20 years ago. George Will, National Review, 7 July 2019 Equally maladroit was her debate decision to wrap herself in an unpopular policy that ended 20 years ago. George Will, Twin Cities, 7 July 2019 Hicks bungled his hijacking of the Johnson, however, and proved maladroit at escaping, leaving a clear trail of evidence along his getaway route. Rinker Buck, WSJ, 28 June 2019 Trump may have been typically maladroit at actually executing on this policy view, but that’s a side issue. Michael Hiltzik, latimes.com, 12 June 2018 See More Word History Etymology French, from Middle French, from mal- + adroit First Known Use 1685, in the meaning defined above maladroitness noun as in artlessness Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance artlessness ineptitude ineptness awkwardness incompetence clumsiness klutziness amateurishness ineffectiveness ineffectuality inefficiency inability inadequateness inefficacy ineffectualness incapacity rudeness incapability crudeness inadequacy Antonyms & Near Antonyms art artistry masterfulness adroitness craft skillfulness artfulness skill cleverness cunning artifice adeptness deftness ease finesse dexterity experience proficiency handiness expertise expertness know-how See More
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maladroit

adjective

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

noun