clumsy

adjective

ˈkləm-zē How to pronounce clumsy (audio)
Definition of clumsynext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in uncoordinated
having or showing an inability to move in a graceful manner a clumsy bow clumsy on the dance floor

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in uncomfortable
lacking social grace and assurance felt clumsy in the unfamiliar uniform

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in inexperienced
showing or marked by a lack of skill and tact (as in dealing with a situation) a clumsy joke

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in rude
hastily or roughly constructed a clumsy mock-up of the real thing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective clumsy contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of clumsy are awkward, gauche, inept, and maladroit. While all these words mean "not marked by ease (as of performance, movement, or social conduct)," clumsy implies stiffness and heaviness and so may connote inflexibility, unwieldiness, or lack of ordinary skill.

a clumsy mechanic

When could awkward be used to replace clumsy?

The words awkward and clumsy can be used in similar contexts, but awkward is widely applicable and may suggest unhandiness, inconvenience, lack of muscular control, embarrassment, or lack of tact.

periods of awkward silence

When might gauche be a better fit than clumsy?

Although the words gauche and clumsy have much in common, gauche implies the effects of shyness, inexperience, or ill breeding.

felt gauche and unsophisticated at formal parties

In what contexts can inept take the place of clumsy?

While the synonyms inept and clumsy are close in meaning, inept often implies complete failure or inadequacy.

a hopelessly inept defense attorney

When would maladroit be a good substitute for clumsy?

In some situations, the words maladroit and clumsy are roughly equivalent. However, maladroit suggests a tendency to create awkward situations.

a maladroit politician

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 clumsy The second trickier and clumsier aside happens when Banderas’ chef tells Tony the tragedy of 17th century French cook François Vatel, who literally fell on his sword before serving a banquet to Louis XIV. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026 The other, in quite clumsy English, requested a very careful renovation of Ingmar Bergman’s house on the island of Fårö, in Sweden. — Literary Hub, 22 July 2026 And the big rocket launch feels way too clumsy, the stakes feeling much lower than play builds towards. — David John Chávez, Mercury News, 17 July 2026 Unless your relationship with your parents is particularly strained or toxic, which might be the case, there’s a good chance each party is approaching parenting with love—even when their attempts might be clumsy or awkward. — Hannah Nwoko, Parents, 17 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for clumsy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clumsy
  1. awkward
  2. uncoordinated
  3. uncomfortable
  4. cumbersome
  5. rude
  6. ungainly
  7. uneasy
  8. unwieldy
Adjective
  • The Moon in Pisces moves through your 6th House of Work, Health, and Daily Routines while making an awkward angle to Venus in Libra and your 1st House of Self.
    — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Most of us have felt awkward during those first tentative steps back into dating.
    — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of awkward
Adjective
  • Every part of our system is largely uncoordinated and underfunded.
    — Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 18 Aug. 2026
  • This has created an uncoordinated and even contradictory landscape for policies focused on drinking.
    — Isabella Cueto, STAT, 14 July 2026
Definition of uncoordinated
Adjective
  • Unlike those folks from the other side of the country who fill cold-weather stadiums for bad teams during snowstorms and brag about it, the local sports fans stay away from struggling teams in uncomfortable situations and shrug about it.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • This is uncomfortable to implement, because someone in legal, compliance or operations has to sign their name to a permanent record of judgment calls the business used to make quietly and never revisit.
    — Krupesh Bhat, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of uncomfortable
Adjective
  • Another important implication is that once a country is removed from the State Department list, getting it back on is bureaucratically cumbersome.
    — Jason M. Blazakis, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Fall decor that is too cluttered, sharp, or cumbersome is often to blame.
    — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of cumbersome
Adjective
  • For instance, your colleagues may be very agreeable and kind to their boss but rude to their more junior colleagues, or the cafeteria waiter.
    — Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Totally ignoring the humanity of both worker and customer is rude, and yet both parties are interested in getting on with whatever the transaction is.
    — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of rude
Adjective
  • Another standout scene features Floyd, who looks like a soft, somewhat ungainly middle-aged man, suddenly getting on a pommel horse and doing something extraordinary.
    — Dana Feldman, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Using original photographs, and input from the Pourtout archives, the restoration team reversed the ungainly Saoutchik body modifications, and the curved windshield and twin rear-window design returned.
    — Howard Walker, Robb Report, 3 July 2026
Definition of ungainly
Adjective
  • As the video popped up on social media and the Spanish-language Facebook group Danbury Al Dia, Hernandez grew uneasy.
    — Laura Tillman, Hartford Courant, 31 Aug. 2026
  • In addition to Cima and her father, the film centers on Hig and Bangley (Josh Brolin), two very different men whose uneasy partnership is shaped by the harsh realities of their new world.
    — Lily Brown, PEOPLE, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of uneasy
Adjective
  • The salt flats are a big, unwieldy space to navigate, but the feeling of getting lost on them (with a guide who knows their way perfectly) is a real treat.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Tanvir managed to run a fan using an unwieldy connection of power cords.
    — Diaa Hadid, NPR, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of unwieldy

Browse Nearby Words

clumsiness
clumsy
clung
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All