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
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
Imagine being cuddled by long-legged, clumsy poodles.
—
Brian Mann, NPR, 20 Apr. 2025
That’s — actually kind of genius, especially if the Poet was a clumsy fella who needed that kind of precautionary measure.
—Sara Netzley, EW.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Combined with Trump’s attacks on the rule of law, his clumsy, erratic attempts to weaponize Washington’s economic advantages pose the greatest threat so far to the dollar’s status as a reserve currency.
—Edward Fishman, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2025
The energy was rewarded with the game’s first goal as the Blue Jackets got clumsy in their own zone; Pontus Holmberg made a clever read to find the trailing Robertson, and the shooter beat Merzlikins.
—Nick Ashbourne, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clumsy
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Brian Mann, NPR, 20 Apr. 2025
That’s — actually kind of genius, especially if the Poet was a clumsy fella who needed that kind of precautionary measure.
—Sara Netzley, EW.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Combined with Trump’s attacks on the rule of law, his clumsy, erratic attempts to weaponize Washington’s economic advantages pose the greatest threat so far to the dollar’s status as a reserve currency.
—Edward Fishman, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2025
The energy was rewarded with the game’s first goal as the Blue Jackets got clumsy in their own zone; Pontus Holmberg made a clever read to find the trailing Robertson, and the shooter beat Merzlikins.
—Nick Ashbourne, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clumsy
Cite this Entry
“Clumsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clumsy. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
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