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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in uncoordinated
having or showing an inability to move in a graceful manner
a clumsy bow clumsy on the dance floor
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3
as in uncomfortable
lacking social grace and assurance
felt clumsy in the unfamiliar uniform
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4
as in inexperienced
showing or marked by a lack of skill and tact (as in dealing with a situation)
a clumsy joke
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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
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6
as in rude
hastily or roughly constructed
a clumsy mock-up of the real thing
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of clumsy
But the song resurfaces in the clumsiest of ways at the end of the episode, with a whispery cover by Wendy Wang providing the backdrop to the moment when Billy gets poisoned to death by Jane, who’s revealed to be working undercover for Sinatra.
—
Jen Chaney, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2025
But some of it is just too clumsy, in particular any scene with the boorish Scott (Patrick Wilson), Eve’s alcoholic music producer hubby.
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 20 Feb. 2025
One reason may be that H5N1 is clumsy at infecting people.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN, 6 Feb. 2025
The character first appears in the franchise’s original film Scream (1996) as the older brother of Tatum Riley (Rose McGowan) and the clumsy police deputy trying to help solve the murders in their town of Woodsboro.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clumsy
Jen Chaney, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2025
But some of it is just too clumsy, in particular any scene with the boorish Scott (Patrick Wilson), Eve’s alcoholic music producer hubby.
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 20 Feb. 2025
One reason may be that H5N1 is clumsy at infecting people.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN, 6 Feb. 2025
The character first appears in the franchise’s original film Scream (1996) as the older brother of Tatum Riley (Rose McGowan) and the clumsy police deputy trying to help solve the murders in their town of Woodsboro.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clumsy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clumsy
Adjective
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Historically an awkward public speaker, Johnson nevertheless saw the invitation as an opportunity to promote his plan for a voting rights bill.—
Michael Peregrine,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Mar. 2025
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After making her Fire Country debut last season in an awkward family reunion with her step-sister Sharon Leone (Diane Farr), Mickey returns in an upcoming episode of the CBS drama to tee up her upcoming spinoff, Sheriff Country.—
Alamin Yohannes,
EW.com,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Contracts for SaaS products go uncoordinated, with separate agencies paying higher prices despite discounts available through collaborative purchases.—
Eric Steele,
Forbes,
10 Mar. 2025
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For Syrian refugees, an uncoordinated or premature return could mean again enduring extreme poverty, the risk of further displacement, or even death, just as the situation looked to be improving.—
Jesse Marks,
Foreign Affairs,
11 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Say something that might make some people uncomfortable but will deeply resonate with your ideal clients.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes,
12 Mar. 2025
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And tariffs could have a perverse and uncomfortable upside, Caitlin Daniel, a researcher at Harvard, told me.—
Rachel Sugar,
The Atlantic,
11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Eliminating the department altogether would be a cumbersome task, which likely would require an act of Congress.—
Annie Ma and Collin Binkley,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2025
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The team concluded that based on the spinal column, the combination of a great white build with the megalodon's much longer length would have simply proved too cumbersome.—
Jennifer Ouellette,
Ars Technica,
9 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The move garnered mixed reactions, with many calling out Brown for his rude tone and choice of words.—
Jessica Bennett,
VIBE.com,
18 Mar. 2025
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Shift The Focus To Collaboration Sometimes, rude colleagues act out of insecurity or stress.—
Cheryl Robinson,
Forbes,
17 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Examples imported from 1975 through 1985 had rather ungainly impact bumpers, so early, chrome-bumper cars are aesthetically more desirable.—
Robert Ross,
Robb Report,
21 Feb. 2025
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You're locked into an ungainly, spread armed, weak kneed Character: snowplow.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
19 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Some medical and public-health institutions have settled into an uneasy détente with smoking alternatives.—
Carrie Battan,
The New Yorker,
10 Mar. 2025
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Based on the Chinese novel Fengshen Yanyi (Investiture Of The Gods), the story follows a demon child raised by humans, who forms an uneasy alliance with the dragon prince, Ao Bing, in an epic battle to protect their clans.—
Liz Shackleton,
Deadline,
10 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The New York Yankees injury list is reaching unwieldy levels.—
Russel Honoré,
Newsweek,
6 Mar. 2025
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The result is a system that makes traditional notions of childhood – with its unwieldy dependencies, its inefficient play and its demands for attention and care – increasingly untenable.—
Anna Mae Duane,
The Conversation,
5 Mar. 2025
Articles Related to clumsy
Cite this Entry
“Clumsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clumsy. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
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