clumsiness

noun

Definition of clumsinessnext
as in inexperience

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of clumsiness Not for the first time, the president’s clumsiness is likely to negate his malevolence, though not without considerable cost, in time and money, to Comey. — Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026 Let a hypothermic victim get some sleep After the shivering, confusion, slurred speech, and clumsiness of hypothermia have manifested, an exposure victim also gets drowsy. — Tim MacWelch, Outdoor Life, 15 July 2026 In January 2024, Lola was diagnosed with leukemia after her parents initially mistook bruises appearing across her body for childhood clumsiness. — Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 25 May 2026 The tree, which graces a botanical garden, bears patient witness to all manner of human clumsiness. — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 8 May 2026 For Perssonatti, the disease is more about fatigue, brain fog, word salad, and clumsiness. — Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2026 The desire for more speed also demonstrated some of the internal clumsiness Weiss and her close inner circle have lamented on the technical side. — Max Tani, semafor.com, 2 Mar. 2026 This wouldn't come from a place of hostility, but due to his clumsiness and trailing tail. — Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 27 Feb. 2026 Technology is closing that gap, not through virtue, but through clumsiness. — Dr. Aditya Vikram Kashyap, Forbes.com, 25 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clumsiness
  1. inexperience
  2. unpreparedness
  3. crudeness
  4. incompetence
  5. ham-handedness
  6. incompetency
  7. inability
Noun
  • Weaknesses include inexperience on defense, NIL budget After a season that ranked 125th in total defense, Schiano decided to overhaul the coaching staff and turn to the portal for help.
    — Everett Merrill, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • For much of Wednesday’s workout, the Ravens defense crushed the Commanders, capitalizing on Washington’s inexperience at center and right guard.
    — Nicki Jhabvala, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of inexperience
Noun
  • Life has always penalized unpreparedness and lack of diligence.
    — byDoug Ashburn, Encyclopedia Britannica, 15 June 2026
  • These surrenders might occur because of unpreparedness or life changes.
    — Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025
Definition of unpreparedness
Noun
  • There’s some rudeness, aggressive conversations, and crudeness, but nothing too over the top.
    — Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 4 Aug. 2025
Definition of crudeness
Noun
  • The Reds demonstrate their incompetence once again by allowing Reacher and Green to disarm them and start swinging.
    — Chris Klimek, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Timidity dissolves into might, selfishness gives place to broad-reaching love, incompetence is replaced with obedience to God’s perfect direction.
    — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of incompetence
Noun
  • This journalistic cynicism amid government ham-handedness shattered something precious too.
    — Gil Troy, New York Daily News, 29 Mar. 2026
  • Only when Bouzid deals with the repercussions of homophobic Tunisian laws does the melodrama tip into ham-handedness.
    — Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of ham-handedness
Noun
  • Court records show DeFoor has a history of criminal cases involving findings of mental incompetency.
    — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Those forms are not pertinent to the finding of incompetency and are therefore subject to the open records law, Ziegler and Bradley wrote.
    — Scott Bauer, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
Definition of incompetency
Noun
  • Johnson’s mayoral tenure has been marked by an inability to work with Springfield, a skill deficiency displayed by his staunch allies at the teachers union and the aligned board members on the CBOE.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Indecisiveness and the inability to keep commitments are a widespread social problem, which has indeed led to the demise of private entertaining.
    — Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of inability

Browse Nearby Words

clumsily
clumsiness
clumsy
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Cite this Entry

“Clumsiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clumsiness. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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