: a clumsy person
klutziness noun
klutzy adjective

Examples of klutz in a Sentence

I'm a complete klutz on the dance floor. how can she be such a klutz after studying ballet for so many years?
Recent Examples on the Web In the beginning, Black’s Po was a klutz who trained himself to earn the title of Dragon Warrior, a name given to his region’s greatest martial artist. Amy Nicholson, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024 And yet, this political klutz is paving the way for Schiff to win the seat vacated by legendary Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s death last year. Jim Newton, The Mercury News, 15 Feb. 2024 Someone who had a tendency to fall might win the award for biggest klutz. Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Oct. 2023 The other guy’s a klutz. Pamela Weintraub, Discover Magazine, 30 May 2012 On a popular sketch-comedy show, Ben-Gvir is presented as an amiable klutz. Ruth Margalit, The New Yorker, 20 Feb. 2023 Phillipa Soo’s Cinderella is a gentle-souled, indecisive dreamer — and a pratfalling klutz with a sharp but guileless sense of humor. Naveen Kumar, Variety, 10 July 2022 Serious klutzes might consider an OtterBox Defender Series (from $50; otterbox.com) for ultra-rugged protection. Marc Saltzman, USA TODAY, 14 Dec. 2019 But none of these addresses the underlying problem; namely, that cell-phone owners are human beings, and are therefore klutzes. Jody Rosen, The New Yorker, 5 Nov. 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'klutz.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Yiddish klots, literally, wooden beam, from Middle High German kloz lumpy mass — more at clout

First Known Use

1959, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of klutz was in 1959

Dictionary Entries Near klutz

Cite this Entry

“Klutz.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/klutz. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

klutz

noun
: a clumsy person
klutziness noun
klutzy adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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