clumsiness

[kluhm-zee-nis]

noun

1. awkwardness or lack of skill or grace in movement or action.

   In spite of their large size and reputed clumsiness, bears are fleet-footed.

2. the fact or quality of being awkwardly done or made, or of being poorly contrived, difficult to use, etc..

   The story wasn't bad, but had moments of clumsiness.

   Despite the winning concept of a phone combined with a gaming console, this version was doomed by the clumsiness of its design.

Word History and Origins

Origin of clumsiness¹

First recorded in 1650–60; clumsy ( def. ) + -ness ( def. )

Example Sentences

We've excluded penalties to show how good United have been at creating and restricting chances themselves, rather than relying on opposition clumsiness or shirt-pulling like they did to score the winner against Burnley.

Read more on BBC

“I’m sure we all have fractured toes from stuff like this...Just clumsiness I guess.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

These include difficulty concentrating, depression, stumbling and clumsiness, involuntary jerking of the limbs and body, mood swings and personality changes, problems swallowing, speaking and breathing.

Read more on BBC

The game, unsurprisingly, was a cavalcade of clumsiness.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"I regret my clumsiness and lack of care in choosing my words and can see the upset and offence they caused," he said.

Read more on BBC