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
In the afterglow of the finale, outlets hit publish on SEO-bait around who did what, and clumsy think pieces like this one followed.
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Thomas Page, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2025
His paranoia, played with clumsy charm by a mustachioed and bleary-eyed Leonardo DiCaprio, is half-cocked and somewhat comical.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 18 Sep. 2025
The rubber sole is also important for clumsy gals like myself.
—Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
Camels seem slow, hippos clumsy, phoenixes unstable, lions lazy.
—Francois Botha, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clumsy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clumsy
Adjective
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In July, a Coldplay concert jumbotron captured an awkward moment after panning to an embracing couple, who promptly unlocked arms and tried to dodge the camera.—
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According to Fightful, Holland had an awkward landing during his match.—
Adjective
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My head slumps, my back arches, my pedal stroke becomes an uncoordinated bounce.—
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This echoes remarks his envoy Steve Witkoff made after the latest round of talks collapsed, slamming Hamas as uncoordinated and not acting in good faith and saying the US would explore alternative options to secure hostage release and stabilize Gaza.—
Adjective
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This is an uncomfortable reality, butting up against every idea of American exceptionalism.—
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The woman described being shocked and feeling uncomfortable.—
Adjective
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From scrunchies that secretly double as drink covers to zipper clips that stop pickpockets from opening your backpack, these viral finds prove that travel safety doesn’t have to be cumbersome or expensive.—
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Big, cumbersome, and greasy, baking sheets can be a pain to clean and dry off.—
Adjective
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Crowd in New York has been bordered on rude; embarrassing!—
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Protecting speech for all requires great tolerance for the vulgar, rude, offensive, angry, mean and, yes, even hateful.—
Adjective
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Critics started using the ungainly term Apatowian to describe his imitators.—
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An absolute charmer, the film is an affecting look at the human-avian bond, with all its mysteries, warmth and ungainly practicalities.—
Adjective
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Still, when her mom asks if Paul and his kids can come on the birthday trip, the woman feels uneasy.—
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The loss of data arrived during an uneasy period for policymakers.—
Adjective
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That aspect of the dispute will be closely watched across the industry, which has embraced streaming but in so doing foisted an unwieldy user experience on viewers of sports.—
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Leonora possesses an unwieldy, arch brand of femininity.—
Cite this Entry
“Clumsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clumsy. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.
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