as in clumsy
lacking or showing a lack of nimbleness in using one's hands
she's far too handless to be good at needlework
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Recent Examples of handless
Twenty-five years after authorities discovered a headless and handless man in a Michigan cornfield, arrests have been made in connection to the grisly murder.
—
Tristan Balagtas, Peoplemag, 26 Jan. 2023
Two brothers were arrested this week on murder charges in connection to a 1997 Michigan cold case in which a man's headless and handless body was found in a cornfield, authorities said.
—Erin Pflaumer, CBS News, 26 Jan. 2023
When asked what doctors and nurses on the front lines at Cincinnati Children's Hospital needed to keep the hospital cleaner, the answer was quick: handless door hooks.
—James Weber, Cincinnati.com, 7 Apr. 2020
Join us on deck for games such as handless doughnut eating, deadeye bowling and cauldron tossing.
—Amy Schwabe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 18 Oct. 2017
Tristan Balagtas, Peoplemag, 26 Jan. 2023
Two brothers were arrested this week on murder charges in connection to a 1997 Michigan cold case in which a man's headless and handless body was found in a cornfield, authorities said.
—Erin Pflaumer, CBS News, 26 Jan. 2023
When asked what doctors and nurses on the front lines at Cincinnati Children's Hospital needed to keep the hospital cleaner, the answer was quick: handless door hooks.
—James Weber, Cincinnati.com, 7 Apr. 2020
Join us on deck for games such as handless doughnut eating, deadeye bowling and cauldron tossing.
—Amy Schwabe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 18 Oct. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for handless
Adjective
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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
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McGee meets one of a clumsy TURF intern Pete, who is revealed to be Olivia's 18-year-old son, Matteo (Patrick Keleher) under interrogation.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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So Pakistan is already in an awkward position because the Saudis are being attacked.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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Lock down the logistics first The fastest way to kill trip momentum is skipping the awkward conversations.—
Lauren Schuster,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Handless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/handless. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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