clumsy

[kluhm-zee]

adjective

clumsier, clumsiest 

1. awkward in movement or action; without skill or grace.

   He is very clumsy and is always breaking things.

   Synonyms: lubberly, lumbering, ungainly, ungraceful

2. awkwardly done or made; unwieldy; ill-contrived.

   He made a clumsy, embarrassed apology.

   Synonyms: inept, heavy-handed, bumbling, inexpert, maladroit, unskillful, unhandy
   Antonyms: skillful, adroit

clumsy

/ ˈklʌmzɪ /

adjective

1. lacking in skill or physical coordination

2. awkwardly constructed or contrived

Other Word Forms

• clumsily adverb
• clumsiness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of clumsy¹

1590–1600; clums benumbed with cold (now obsolete) + -y ¹; akin to Middle English clumsen to be stiff with cold, dialectal Swedish klumsig benumbed, awkward, klums numbskull, Old Norse klumsa lockjaw. See clam ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of clumsy¹

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

Example Sentences

Obviously, part of that was a wariness of saying something clumsy that might get clipped on social media.

From Los Angeles Times

"Alan often, in a clumsy way, says things that as an audience you agree with," he explains.

From BBC

Matt, now 43, is still able to walk, but has become clumsy with his movement and also been affected mentally.

From BBC

Like many such reversals, it’s been a bit clumsy at times, complicated by the fact that Albers’ practice borrowed — quite openly — from Indigenous craft, specifically ancient Peruvian weaving traditions.

From Los Angeles Times

"I am just a clumsy dude," he explained.

From BBC

Related Words

• bulky 
• heavy-handed 
• inept 
• ponderous 
• ungainly 
• unwieldy