clumsy

clumsy

adjective

Definition of CLUMSY

1

lacking or showing a lack of nimbleness in using one's hands <diamond cutting is no job for a clumsy person>

Synonyms awkward, butterfingered, cack-handed [British], graceless, ham-fisted, ham-handed, handless, heavy-handed, left-handed, maladroit, unhandy

Related Words uncoordinated; bunglesome, bungling, gauche, inept, inexpert, unskilled, unskillful

Phrases all thumbs

Near Antonyms expert, masterly, skilled, skillful; coordinated

Antonyms deft, dexterous (also dextrous), handy, sure-handed

2

having or showing an inability to move in a graceful manner <a clumsy bow> <clumsy on the dance floor>

Synonyms awkward, gawkish, gawky, graceless, klutzy, uncoordinated, ungainly

Related Words galumphing, larruping [dialect], lubberly, lumbering, lumpish, shambling, shuffling, unsteady, wobbly (also wabbly)

Near Antonyms light, light-footed (also light-foot), lissome (also lissom), lithe, nimble, sure-footed

Antonyms coordinated, graceful

3

lacking social grace and assurance <felt clumsy in the unfamiliar uniform>

Synonyms clumsy, gauche, graceless, inelegant, rough-hewn, rustic (also rustical), stiff, stilted, uncomfortable, uneasy, ungraceful, wooden

Related Words angular, gawky, lubberly, ungainly; boorish, clownish, uncouth; abashed, discomfited, discomforted, discomposed, disconcerted, discountenanced, embarrassed; self-conscious; agitated, bothered, chagrined, dismayed, disquieted, distressed, disturbed, fazed, flustered, jittery, jumpy, mortified, nervous, nonplussed (also nonplused), perturbed, rattled, unhinged, unsettled, upset; diffident, insecure, meek, modest, self-doubting, timid, unassertive, unassuming, unpretentious

Near Antonyms assured, calm, collected, composed, confident, cool, placid, poised, secure, self-assured, self-confident, self-possessed, serene, tranquil, undisturbed, unperturbed

Antonyms graceful, suave, urbane

4

showing or marked by a lack of skill and tact (as in dealing with a situation) <a clumsy joke>

Synonyms botched, bungling, clumsy, fumbled, inept, inexpert, maladroit

Related Words amateur, amateurish, crude, green, incompetent, ineffectual, inefficient, inexperienced, unpolished, unprofessional, unskilled, unskillful; careless, sloppy, tacky, tactless, undiplomatic; ill-advised, ineffective, ineffectual, misdirected, misguided

Near Antonyms able, accomplished, adept, capable, clever, competent, consummate, crackerjack, expert, masterful, masterly, polished, professional, proficient, skilled, skillful, talented; diplomatic, easy, effortless, gracious, smooth, tactful

Antonyms adroit, deft, dexterous (also dextrous), facile

5

difficult to use or operate especially because of size, weight, or design <a clumsy contraption, but it got the job done>

Synonyms awkward, bunglesome, clumsy, clunky, cranky, cumbrous, ponderous, ungainly, unhandy, unwieldy

Related Words uncontrollable, unmanageable; bulky, dinosaurian, dinosauric, elephantine, heavy, hulking, massive; impracticable, impractical

Near Antonyms functional, practicable, practical, serviceable, useful

Antonyms handy

6

hastily or roughly constructed <a clumsy mock-up of the real thing>

Synonyms artless, clumsy, crude, jerry-built, jerry-rigged, jury-rigged, rough, rough-and-ready, rough-and-tumble, rough-hewn, unrefined

Related Words defective, faulty, flawed, imperfect; imprecise, inexact; inartistic, undressed, unfinished, unpolished, unworked; amateur, amateurish, inexpert, unprofessional, unskilled, unskillful; primitive, rudimentary; unshaped, unshapen

Near Antonyms faultless, finished, flawless, meticulous, perfect, perfected, polished, well-done; adept, adroit, dexterous (also dextrous), expert, masterful, masterly, neat, practiced (also practised), skillful, workmanlike; artful, artistic, sophisticated; exact, precise

Antonyms refined