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
Even young Oklahoma City required a clumsy postseason audition.
—
Troy Renck, Denver Post, 5 Apr. 2026
The driver and his accomplice then mounted a clumsy getaway that resulted in their scooter crashing about three blocks from the scene, cops said.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 3 Apr. 2026
But it’s played sincerely, so the visual contrast just makes the connection feel clumsy, if not outright absurd.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 23 Mar. 2026
First, Vinicius Junior’s 52nd-minute penalty brought them level after David Hancko’s clumsy challenge on Brahim Diaz.
—Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clumsy
Troy Renck, Denver Post, 5 Apr. 2026
The driver and his accomplice then mounted a clumsy getaway that resulted in their scooter crashing about three blocks from the scene, cops said.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 3 Apr. 2026
But it’s played sincerely, so the visual contrast just makes the connection feel clumsy, if not outright absurd.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 23 Mar. 2026
First, Vinicius Junior’s 52nd-minute penalty brought them level after David Hancko’s clumsy challenge on Brahim Diaz.
—Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clumsy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clumsy
Adjective
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Cohen offered limited clarity on the structure during what at times was a combative and awkward interview, repeatedly directing viewers to the company's website for details.—
Yun Li,Anniek Bao,Annie Palmer,
CNBC,
4 May 2026
-
The awkward catching-up process turns into energetic conversations about race, relationships, class, status and rehabilitation, then shifts to deep familial spiritual bonding.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
The country had lost a generation of promising students and researchers during World War I; its universities were teaching math in uncoordinated, fragmented ways, using materials that were woefully out of date.—
Leila Sloman,
Quanta Magazine,
25 Mar. 2026
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For a quiet, uncoordinated kid, there was nothing cooler than a hero whose superpower was his imagination.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The Magic are now 1-7 in playoff games when Banchero scores 30 or more, a statistic that raises uncomfortable questions about everything around him.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 May 2026
-
Put America’s sleep numbers next to its peer nations and the picture gets more uncomfortable.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
Retirees who have more time to spend in shopping lines become their families’ lifelines, taking on the cumbersome task of searching for food and standing in long lines.—
Sarah Moreno
Updated April 29,
Miami Herald,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Big, cumbersome, and greasy, baking sheets can be a pain to clean and dry off.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Meeting a partner’s family can be challenging in any circumstance; anxieties about a family member saying something rude or belittling can only compound that.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
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Ohm, well played by Scott who can wither with you with a look, is the classic ugly American and is rude to everyone at the hotel, but those putdowns and cruelty hides his self loathing.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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In its back-to-back knottiness, the album takes on an ungainly quality that, deliberate or not, sets up roadblocks to prolonged enjoyment.—
Maxie Younger,
Pitchfork,
27 Mar. 2026
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The situation has grown so ungainly and untenable that, if Silicon Valley is merely forced to slow down, the viability of all this spending will likely be called into question in ways that could be devastating for many.—
Matteo Wong,
The Atlantic,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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This return to record highs means 401(k)s, individual retirement accounts and stock portfolios that track benchmark US stock indexes recovered after an uneasy few weeks.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
1 May 2026
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So as the series shifts back to Kia Center, the Magic find themselves in a position that is both familiar and uneasy.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Instead, government continues to grow at an alarming pace, into an unwieldy monster, impossibly big and unmanageable and expensive.—
Kevin Fixler
May 3,
Idaho Statesman,
3 May 2026
-
The poor equipment manager was struggling with the unwieldy block.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clumsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clumsy. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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