clumsy

1 of 2

adjective

clum·​sy ˈkləm-zē How to pronounce clumsy (audio)
clumsier; clumsiest
Synonyms of clumsy
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 How to pronounce clumsy (audio)
adverb
clumsiness
ˈkləm-zē-nəs How to pronounce clumsy (audio)
noun

clumsiness

2 of 2

noun

clum·​si·​ness ˈkləm-zē-nəs How to pronounce clumsiness (audio)
plural -es
: the quality of being clumsy

Synonyms of clumsy

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Adjective

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus
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

Adjective 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
But more broadly, as streaming became the dominant way audiences consume entertainment, a shelf full of stuff started to look like a relic of a clumsier time that most folks were happy to forget. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 10 July 2026 The decision last fall followed clumsy discussion by Kennedy’s dubiously qualified advisors, who make up the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 10 July 2026 That said, today's routine surgical robots also started out slow and clumsy. — New Atlas, 10 July 2026 From the first whistle, the Americans looked too clumsy, disconnected and immature to compete for the World Cup quarterfinals berth. — Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for clumsy

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

probably from obsolete English clumse benumbed with cold

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of clumsy was circa 1598

Browse Nearby Words

clumsiness
clumsy
clunch
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Clumsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clumsy. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

clumsy

adjective
clum·​sy ˈkləm-zē How to pronounce clumsy (audio)
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 How to pronounce clumsy (audio)
adverb
clumsiness
-zē-nəs How to pronounce clumsy (audio)
noun

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