clumsy

1 of 2

adjective

clum·​sy ˈkləm-zē 

clumsier; clumsiest

1

a

: lacking dexterity, nimbleness, or grace

clumsy fingers

b

: lacking tact or subtlety

a clumsy joke

2

: awkward or inefficient in use or construction : unwieldy

a clumsy contraption

criticized her sentence for its clumsy construction

clumsily

ˈkləm-zə-lē 

adverb

clumsiness

ˈkləm-zē-nəs 

noun

clumsiness

2 of 2

noun

clum·​si·​ness ˈkləm-zē-nəs 

plural -es

: the quality of being clumsy

Synonyms of clumsy

Adjective

• awkward

Choose the Right Synonym for clumsy

awkward, clumsy, maladroit, inept, gauche mean not marked by ease (as of performance, movement, or social conduct).

awkward is widely applicable and may suggest unhandiness, inconvenience, lack of muscular control, embarrassment, or lack of tact.

periods of awkward silence

clumsy implies stiffness and heaviness and so may connote inflexibility, unwieldiness, or lack of ordinary skill.

a clumsy mechanic

maladroit suggests a tendency to create awkward situations.

a maladroit politician

inept often implies complete failure or inadequacy.

a hopelessly inept defense attorney

gauche implies the effects of shyness, inexperience, or ill breeding.

felt gauche and unsophisticated at formal parties

Examples of clumsy in a Sentence

Adjective

I'm sorry about spilling your wine—that was very clumsy of me.

I have very clumsy hands and tend to drop things.

She made a clumsy attempt at a joke.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

This layout makes the monitor a natural fit for high-traffic environments like banking counters, medical reception desks, and service queues where traditional screen-sharing is often clumsy or compromises privacy. —New Atlas, 8 June 2026

After the zapfest on Earth, the anti-climactic tussle between the forces of good and evil occurs back on Eternia, where He-Man and his nemesis cross swords in a clumsy fight that’s not only predictable but also photographed and edited poorly. —Jeffrey Ressner, HollywoodReporter, 3 June 2026

The clumsy third inning from the defense didn’t help Tong, who threw 27 pitches in the frame. —Will Sammon, New York Times, 3 June 2026

The simple walking pattern adopted by fish, which the Cambridge researchers call an ‘undulating tripod gait’, can appear to be quite clumsy and involves too much flopping. —Abhishek Bhardwaj, Interesting Engineering, 2 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

probably from obsolete English clumse benumbed with cold

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

clumsy

adjective

clum·​sy ˈkləm-zē 

clumsier; clumsiest

1

a

: lacking skill or grace in movement

clumsy fingers

b

: showing social awkwardness or a lack of tact

a clumsy attempt at a joke

2

: awkwardly or poorly made : hard to use

a clumsy tool

clumsily

-zə-lē 

adverb

clumsiness

-zē-nəs 

noun