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
As well as making a star of Alicia Silverstone, the original movie showcased the talents of Paul Rudd who played her stepbrother Josh (and went onto become Phoebe’s partner in Friends and take on the role of Ant Man) and the late Brittany Murphy, who played Cher’s clumsy friend Tai.
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Lee Sharrock, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
Howe got down to the final two before Newcastle made a clumsy, public approach to Unai Emery, who was then at Villarreal and is now Aston Villa manager.
—George Caulkin, The Athletic, 13 Mar. 2025
This contrasts starkly with the clumsy federal bureaucracy, and the failure of its various components to take an ownership stake in the crisis.
—Kelly McKinney, New York Daily News, 12 Mar. 2025
But the song resurfaces in the clumsiest of ways at the end of the episode, with a whispery cover by Wendy Wang providing the backdrop to the moment when Billy gets poisoned to death by Jane, who’s revealed to be working undercover for Sinatra.
—Jen Chaney, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clumsy
Lee Sharrock, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
Howe got down to the final two before Newcastle made a clumsy, public approach to Unai Emery, who was then at Villarreal and is now Aston Villa manager.
—George Caulkin, The Athletic, 13 Mar. 2025
This contrasts starkly with the clumsy federal bureaucracy, and the failure of its various components to take an ownership stake in the crisis.
—Kelly McKinney, New York Daily News, 12 Mar. 2025
But the song resurfaces in the clumsiest of ways at the end of the episode, with a whispery cover by Wendy Wang providing the backdrop to the moment when Billy gets poisoned to death by Jane, who’s revealed to be working undercover for Sinatra.
—Jen Chaney, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clumsy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clumsy
Adjective
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While Susan’s style gets all the attention, there’s a story to be told in Roberta’s awkward glow-up, too.—
Scarlett Harris,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2025
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The timing is awkward for Google, coming just days after Microsoft’s latest warning implying users would be safer switching from Chrome to Edge.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, on the other hand, viewed one another as rivals as much as allies, and their competitive and uncoordinated efforts consistently backfired.—
Marc Lynch,
Foreign Affairs,
14 Aug. 2018
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Contracts for SaaS products go uncoordinated, with separate agencies paying higher prices despite discounts available through collaborative purchases.—
Eric Steele,
Forbes,
10 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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This, again, signals that this is an unusual and uncomfortable situation.—
Tim Maurer,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
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Depending on your cat’s coat, some products may be uncomfortable or painful.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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As legal professionals gain increasing authority over AI deployment decisions, new internal stakeholders are introduced, making the organizational process of adopting AI systems more cumbersome.—
Nizan Geslevich Packin,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025
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Like so many others, they are left with an impossible choice: involve the criminal justice system — which may be slow, cumbersome and invasive — or do nothing and hope the situation doesn’t escalate.—
Eric Gonzalez,
New York Daily News,
26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The incident sparked mixed reactions on social media, with some criticizing Wallen’s actions on the show as rude.—
Mitchell Peters,
Billboard,
30 Mar. 2025
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This, experts say, is a punctuation choice that can make messages appear uncertain or vague, which confuses recipients and sometimes comes off as passive aggressive and rude.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Examples imported from 1975 through 1985 had rather ungainly impact bumpers, so early, chrome-bumper cars are aesthetically more desirable.—
Robert Ross,
Robb Report,
21 Feb. 2025
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You're locked into an ungainly, spread armed, weak kneed Character: snowplow.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
19 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Inflation, perhaps stiffened by tariffs, and uncertainty over the future of the labor market have left consumers feeling uneasy.—
DeArbea Walker,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025
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But the Armageddon-level stakes of unrest in the region should make anyone uneasy about mishaps.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Providing succulents with too much fertilizer can cause these plants to grow too quickly and develop unwieldy stems that are prone to breaking. 6.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Feb. 2025
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The New York Yankees injury list is reaching unwieldy levels.—
Russel Honoré,
Newsweek,
6 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clumsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clumsy. Accessed 7 Apr. 2025.
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