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

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

Far from prolific in front of goal, the Senegalese looked out of sorts, full of running and hunger to score but clumsy, his anxious limbs snatching at chances rather than taking them naturally. —Henry Flynn, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024

The first few episodes were rife with clumsy and, at times, confusing time jumps, many that seemed tacked on to preexisting scenes in an effort to retrofit them for a new, Costner-less reality. —Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 16 Dec. 2024

That clumsy murder staged as a suicide was exposed by Kayce based on his SEAL experiences. —Lynette Rice, Deadline, 15 Dec. 2024

Trying to play some older classics shreds the eyes and frustrates players with a clumsier control scheme. —Gieson Cacho, The Mercury News, 23 Oct. 2024

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

a

: lacking skill or grace in movement

clumsy fingers

b

: showing social awkwardness or a lack of tact

a clumsy attempt at a joke

2

: awkwardly or poorly made : hard to use

a clumsy tool

clumsily

-zə-lē 

adverb

clumsiness

-zē-nəs 

noun