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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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 these comments are quick; more time is spent on building Conrad up as a clumsy, inadvertently charming guy who has a crush on Ruby.
—
Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 3 May 2025
These transitions, between past and present, are sometimes clumsy but sometimes genuinely sweet, as with an old letter that near-simultaneously is dictated and written, received and read, and finally rediscovered (and only partially understood) in the 21st century.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 27 May 2025
Wildlife officials helped remove a black bear found hanging out in the kitchen of a Kentucky home after an impressive, yet clumsy break-in, photos show.
—Mitchell Willetts, Kansas City Star, 25 May 2025
Puppies are rambunctious, clumsy, curious and generally a bit chaotic.
—Cody Godwin, USA Today, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for clumsy
Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 3 May 2025
These transitions, between past and present, are sometimes clumsy but sometimes genuinely sweet, as with an old letter that near-simultaneously is dictated and written, received and read, and finally rediscovered (and only partially understood) in the 21st century.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 27 May 2025
Wildlife officials helped remove a black bear found hanging out in the kitchen of a Kentucky home after an impressive, yet clumsy break-in, photos show.
—Mitchell Willetts, Kansas City Star, 25 May 2025
Puppies are rambunctious, clumsy, curious and generally a bit chaotic.
—Cody Godwin, USA Today, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for clumsy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clumsy
Adjective
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From awkward silences to unresolved tensions, most of us would rather scroll, text, or disappear than risk a moment of raw, honest connection.—
Margie Warrell,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
-
The feelings of being sweaty, red-faced and kind of awkward is very familiar to me.—
Mark Olsen,
Los Angeles Times,
5 June 2025
Adjective
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These videos often spotlight patchwork tattoos, a style that’s become increasingly trendy in the past five years and consists of clusters of uncoordinated flash tattoos rather than a cohesive sleeve.—
Alyssa Goldberg,
USA Today,
2 June 2025
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Passionflower can also cause side effects like drowsiness, confusion, and uncoordinated movement in some people.39 11.—
Emmanuella Ogbonna,
Health,
19 May 2025
Adjective
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Because here’s the uncomfortable truth: Most marketing ROI is based on incomplete data and backward-looking models that oversimplify human behavior.—
Gully Flowers,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2025
-
Bloating Bloating is a common and often uncomfortable feeling of stomach fullness or tightness.—
T'Keyah Bazin,
Verywell Health,
4 June 2025
Adjective
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Trying to clean behind heavy, cumbersome appliances is a different story.—
Quincy Bulin,
Southern Living,
3 June 2025
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During his first term, Trump frequently slammed environmental studies under NEPA as too cumbersome and time-consuming.—
CNN.com,
Mercury News,
29 May 2025
Adjective
-
Carry-on rules exist for a reason and deliberately ignoring the rules is both rude and inconsiderate to everyone else who is.—
Soo Kim,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 June 2025
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Matthews walked out of the home to talk to the suspect but returned to the house, saying Hoskins-Ellis said something rude to him.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
9 June 2025
Adjective
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The resulting Cheetah was, frankly, an ungainly machine, more like an oversized four-wheel ATV than a Ford Bronco or Mercedes G-Wagen.—
Will Sabel Courtney,
Robb Report,
22 May 2025
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That dispute was patched over by an ungainly agreement, negotiated between the European Commission and the U.S. government.—
Henry Farrell,
Foreign Affairs,
3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Some are bigger than others: economic uncertainty, changing customer behaviors, personal isolation, leadership burnout, marketing crisis, brand reputation, uneasy board members, investor expectations, consumer confidence, health issues and family challenges.—
Nancy Padberg,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2025
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But Musk’s rebuke has energized fiscal hawks in the Senate who were already uneasy with the legislation’s scope.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
3 June 2025
Adjective
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Adding more throughput is unwieldy and impractical.—
Steve Banker,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2025
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The sateen shell kept cool, and the weight and thickness of this insert were ideal and not too unwieldy, too fluffy or unmanageable.—
Rebecca Jones,
Southern Living,
30 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clumsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clumsy. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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