1
as in clumsy
lacking or showing a lack of nimbleness in using one's hands
some maladroit steering on her part caused the bicycle to go crashing into the bushes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in awkward
showing or marked by a lack of skill and tact (as in dealing with a situation)
the socially maladroit young man often has a difficult time meeting new people
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of maladroit
Michael Strassner, who co-wrote the film with Duplass, stars as Cliff, a physically maladroit, mildly depressive but sweet-natured man whose thick beard and portly bearing suggest Lord of the Rings-era Peter Jackson.
—
Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2025
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.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2025
After the election came a string of unflattering headlines about her alleged mismanagement of the vice president’s office and her sometimes maladroit communication of the president’s agenda, most notably on immigration.
—Cleve R. Wootson Jr., Washington Post, 22 July 2024
Every possible strategy that Senate Republicans might be following is maladroit to a degree one associates less with the Senate than with the House under Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
—Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 30 Aug. 2023
Factor in a politically maladroit Afghan government and endemic corruption, and once the Taliban began to roll up government surrenders in the provinces, their offensive took on a life of its own.
—The Editors, National Review, 15 Aug. 2021
The series is itself like a socially awkward teen-age nerd—charming but maladroit, heedless, a little exhausting.
—Sarah Larson, The New Yorker, 10 May 2020
His own party criticizes what many call his maladroit communication on an anxiety-inducing subject.
—Adam Nossiter, New York Times, 9 Dec. 2019
Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2025
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.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2025
After the election came a string of unflattering headlines about her alleged mismanagement of the vice president’s office and her sometimes maladroit communication of the president’s agenda, most notably on immigration.
—Cleve R. Wootson Jr., Washington Post, 22 July 2024
Every possible strategy that Senate Republicans might be following is maladroit to a degree one associates less with the Senate than with the House under Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
—Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 30 Aug. 2023
Factor in a politically maladroit Afghan government and endemic corruption, and once the Taliban began to roll up government surrenders in the provinces, their offensive took on a life of its own.
—The Editors, National Review, 15 Aug. 2021
The series is itself like a socially awkward teen-age nerd—charming but maladroit, heedless, a little exhausting.
—Sarah Larson, The New Yorker, 10 May 2020
His own party criticizes what many call his maladroit communication on an anxiety-inducing subject.
—Adam Nossiter, New York Times, 9 Dec. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for maladroit
Adjective
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Actually, Alma does suffer from ulcers, which cause her extraordinary stomach pain and vomiting at inconvenient moments, and cause viewers to wonder not if but when such clumsy symbolic traits will be trotted out in the future.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
9 Oct. 2025
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There had to be an element of her that was sort of clumsy.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Pickens caught a pass around the 26-yard line and blazed past cornerback Mike Jackson on an awkward angle for the score.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Oct. 2025
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Teammate Ji’Ayir Brown rolled up on the back of Warner’s ankle while trying to make a tackle on Rachaad White, and Warner’s ankle bent at an awkward angle.—
The Athletic NFL Staff,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Maladroit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maladroit. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
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