clumsy

[kluhm-zee]

See more synonyms for clumsy on Thesaurus.com

adjective, clum·si·er, clum·si·est.

awkward in movement or action; without skill or grace: He is very clumsy and is always breaking things.
awkwardly done or made; unwieldy; ill-contrived: He made a clumsy, embarrassed apology.

Origin of clumsy

1590–1600; clums benumbed with cold (now obsolete) + -y¹; akin to Middle English clumsen to be stiff with cold, dialectal Swedish klumsig benumbed, awkward, klums numbskull, Old Norse klumsa lockjaw. See clam²

Related formsclum·si·ly, adverbclum·si·ness, noun

Synonyms for clumsy

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1. ungraceful, ungainly, lumbering, lubberly. 2. unhandy, unskillful, maladroit, inexpert, bungling, bumbling, heavy-handed, inept.

Antonyms for clumsy

2. adroit, skillful.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for clumsily

awkwardly

Examples from the Web for clumsily

Contemporary Examples of clumsily

He clumsily sipped from the dainty straw of a blasphemously non-bourbon beverage and smiled broadly as he talked to fellow bros.
Mitch’s Brotastic Victory Bash
Olivia Nuzzi
November 5, 2014
After firing that off, he clumsily asked what a plantation mentality is.
Donald Sterling’s Insane Attempt at Damage Control Fails Miserably
Nina Strochlic
May 13, 2014
How exciting to think that Jews of all people have sexual appetites, which they satisfy as clumsily as anybody else.
The Real Lessons Of Portnoy’s Complaint
Bernard Avishai
August 7, 2013
I thought about the 9mm in my purse as I clumsily continued down the stairs in my skirt and heels.
‘Stupid,’ ‘Immoral,’ ‘Dangerous,’ ‘Coward’: My Month With a Gun
Heidi Yewman
July 22, 2013
First, he clumsily inserts nakedly political posturing that seems altogether out-of-place in the context of the High Holy Days.
Obama's Rosh Hashanah Gaffes
Michael Medved
September 29, 2011

Historical Examples of clumsily

It was clumsily enough made, and he doubtless guessed how she had obtained it.
Roden's Corner
Henry Seton Merriman
The priest was lying, clumsily, childishly, but it might be he could bargain with them.
Two Thousand Miles Below
Charles Willard Diffin
The Martian had been walking by the ravine and had clumsily fallen in.
Martians Never Die
Lucius Daniel
He could move his arms a little, clumsily, but feeling was gone from them.
Death of a Spaceman
Walter M. Miller
Clumsily enough, dangling as he was, Bell twisted about to look for Paula.
Astounding Stories of Super-Science July 1930
Various

British Dictionary definitions for clumsily

clumsy

adjective -sier or -siest

lacking in skill or physical coordination
awkwardly constructed or contrived

Derived Formsclumsily, adverbclumsiness, noun

Word Origin for clumsy

C16 (in obsolete sense: benumbed with cold; hence, awkward): perhaps from C13 dialect clumse to benumb, probably from Scandinavian; compare Swedish dialect klumsig numb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for clumsily

clumsy

adj.

1590s, "acting as if benumbed," alteration of Middle English clumsid "numb with cold" (14c.), past participle of clumsen "to benumb, stiffen or paralyze with cold or fear," from a Scandinavian source akin to Old Norse klumsa "make speechless, palsy; prevent from speaking," intensive of kluma "to make motionless." For insertion of -s-, cf. flimsy.

Not in general use until 18c., with senses "manifesting awkwardness; so made as to be unwieldy." Related: Clumsily; clumsiness. Cf. Swedish dialectal klummsen "benumbed with cold," Norwegian klumsad (past participle) "speechless, palsied by a spasm or by fear or witchery;" German verklammen "grow stiff or numb with cold." Also cf. clumse (n.) "a stupid fellow."