/CLUMSY Synonyms: 226 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'clumsy' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of clumsy are awkward , gauche , inept , and maladroit . While all these words mean "not marked by ease (as of performance, movement, or social conduct)," clumsy implies stiffness and heaviness and so may connote inflexibility, unwieldiness, or lack of ordinary skill. // a clumsy mechanic

Q: When could 'awkward' be used to replace 'clumsy'?

The words awkward and clumsy can be used in similar contexts, but awkward is widely applicable and may suggest unhandiness, inconvenience, lack of muscular control, embarrassment, or lack of tact. // periods of awkward silence

Q: When might 'gauche' be a better fit than 'clumsy'?

Although the words gauche and clumsy have much in common, gauche implies the effects of shyness, inexperience, or ill breeding. // felt gauche and unsophisticated at formal parties

Q: In what contexts can 'inept' take the place of 'clumsy'?

While the synonyms inept and clumsy are close in meaning, inept often implies complete failure or inadequacy. // a hopelessly inept defense attorney

Q: When would 'maladroit' be a good substitute for 'clumsy'?

In some situations, the words maladroit and clumsy are roughly equivalent. However, maladroit suggests a tendency to create awkward situations. // a maladroit politician

clumsy

adjective

ˈkləm-zē

Definition of clumsy

as in awkward

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

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as in uncoordinated

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

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as in uncomfortable

lacking social grace and assurance felt clumsy in the unfamiliar uniform

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as in inexperienced

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

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as in cumbersome

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

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as in rude

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective clumsy contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of clumsy are awkward, gauche, inept, and maladroit. While all these words mean "not marked by ease (as of performance, movement, or social conduct)," clumsy implies stiffness and heaviness and so may connote inflexibility, unwieldiness, or lack of ordinary skill.

a clumsy mechanic

When could awkward be used to replace clumsy?

The words awkward and clumsy can be used in similar contexts, but awkward is widely applicable and may suggest unhandiness, inconvenience, lack of muscular control, embarrassment, or lack of tact.

periods of awkward silence

When might gauche be a better fit than clumsy?

Although the words gauche and clumsy have much in common, gauche implies the effects of shyness, inexperience, or ill breeding.

felt gauche and unsophisticated at formal parties

In what contexts can inept take the place of clumsy?

While the synonyms inept and clumsy are close in meaning, inept often implies complete failure or inadequacy.

a hopelessly inept defense attorney

When would maladroit be a good substitute for clumsy?

In some situations, the words maladroit and clumsy are roughly equivalent. However, maladroit suggests a tendency to create awkward situations.

a maladroit politician

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of clumsy The historic victory, the nation’s first ever in the World Cup, was overshadowed when the midfielder injured his leg in gruesome fashion following a clumsy challenge from Qatar’s Assim Madibo. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 19 June 2026 Better systems beat willpower as clumsy Chiron enters your 6th House of Work and Health, reminding you that mistakes teach faster than shame. — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 19 June 2026 The city was pretty close to blowing even more money on its clumsy crimefighter, too. — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 17 June 2026 Tree often performed as his alter ego, Turbo, a clumsy, scooter-loving daredevil known for his signature bowl cut haircut, oversized JNCO jeans, and vibrant windbreaker jackets. — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 15 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for clumsy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for clumsy

Adjective

Human bodies were like animals’ The few medical instruments of the revolutionary era were heavy in the hand, awkward in use and imprecise to maneuver.

— Katherine Ott, The Conversation, 2 July 2026
In its place are itty-bitty bands that still keep your flats or heels in place, just with less of a chance of awkward tan lines.

— Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 1 July 2026

Definition of awkward

Adjective

But the overall picture of the possible Russian drone campaign suggests that the European response has been fragmented and uncoordinated for the most part so far.

— Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 6 July 2026
In November, a number of odd bedfellows submitted several, uncoordinated letters to the BLM’s acting director, all urging caution about the downstream effects of the CRA ruling.

— Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 25 June 2026

Definition of uncoordinated

Adjective

Despite the full lineup and passionate patriotic crowd in Seattle, Team USA looked uncomfortable from the start, fell behind early, made sloppy mistakes and could not keep up with the Belgians, who move on to face Spain in the quarterfinals.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 7 July 2026
Upworthy reported that constant multitasking and algorithm-driven content have trained a lot of people’s brains to treat stillness as uncomfortable, pointing out that the average person keeps five to 10 browser tabs open at once.

— Allison Palmer July 7, Kansas City Star, 7 July 2026

Definition of uncomfortable

Adjective

Moving fast and smart – as an efficiency first strategy enables – is the winner as compared to the more cumbersome and costly conventional approach.

— Kathleen “Katie” McGinty, Fortune, 6 July 2026
For example, in tenant onboarding, using AI to automatically auto-fill and email a 50-page PDF lease just speeds up the generation of a static, cumbersome document that still requires manual follow-ups.

— Ali Hoss, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026

Definition of cumbersome

Adjective

Using original photographs, and input from the Pourtout archives, the restoration team reversed the ungainly Saoutchik body modifications, and the curved windshield and twin rear-window design returned.

— Howard Walker, Robb Report, 3 July 2026
Instead of an ungainly pile of pillows, modern buyers prefer to let the materials sing.

— Abby Wolner, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 June 2026

Definition of ungainly

Adjective

Now Gauff and her next opponent, Karolina Muchova, face off Thursday for a chance to transform their mutually uneasy relationships with the green blades beneath their feet into the biggest grass-court breakthrough of their careers.

— Douglas Robson, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
The result is a tension stretched nearly to the snapping point, then resolved in an uneasy detente.

— Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 6 July 2026

Definition of uneasy

Adjective

But the unwieldy timeline of the training facility’s completion has begun to erode trust from the latest iteration of the Sky roster.

— Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 8 July 2026
Montmartre, actually, is a good example of what happens when the number of tourists becomes too unwieldy to manage—shops and services here have pivoted away from supporting locals, becoming souvenir stores and tourist-only businesses.

— Alex Ledsom, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

Definition of unwieldy

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clumsiness

clumsy

clung

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“Clumsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clumsy. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of clumsy

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