maladroit

[mal-uh-droit]

adjective

1. lacking in adroitness; unskillful; awkward; bungling; tactless.

   to handle a diplomatic crisis in a very maladroit way.

   Synonyms: gauche, inept, clumsy

maladroit

/ ˌmæləˈdrɔɪt /

adjective

1. showing or characterized by clumsiness; not dexterous

2. tactless and insensitive in behaviour or speech

Other Word Forms

• maladroitly adverb
• maladroitness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of maladroit¹

First recorded in 1665–75; from French, Middle French: literally “clumsy”; mal-, adroit

Word History and Origins

Origin of maladroit¹

C17: from French, from mal badly + _adroit

Example Sentences

DeSantis tried to take his show on the road via a quest for the presidential nomination, but his culture warfare didn’t obscure his maladroit skills on the stump.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

You may need a microscope to see it in this maladroit production, but you hear it wonderfully.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Trump subsequently browbeat his maladroit FDA chairman, Stephen Hahn, into issuing an emergency authorization for the use of convalescent plasma to treat COVID-19 patients.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The original's famously maladroit "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield," with its adversaries whose faces were painted white and black on opposite sides, is kindly remembered as well-intentioned and poorly executed.

Read more on Salon

It’s “Groundhog Day” in Denver with the Broncos’ maladroit offense unable to score and its stellar defense incapable of closing out opponents.

Read more on Seattle Times