1
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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2
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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3
as in uncomfortable
lacking social grace and assurance
felt clumsy in the unfamiliar uniform
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4
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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5
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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6
as in rude
hastily or roughly constructed
a clumsy mock-up of the real thing
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of clumsy
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
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
See All Example Sentences for clumsy
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
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
See All Example Sentences for clumsy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clumsy
Adjective
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Your 2nd House of Finances hits an awkward angle as the nurturing Moon quincunxes ambitious Mars in your 9th House of Travel and Learning.
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But that doesn’t mean there still aren’t some awkward moments.
Adjective
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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.
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Much of this is vibrational motion, which is random and uncoordinated.
Adjective
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The conclusions from these findings are both uncomfortable and freeing.
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Francisco Lindor is injured, and other guys just look uncomfortable.
Adjective
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That tendency, which may have been with us since the Stone Age, today serves the interests of our cumbersome friends in the Florida Everglades.
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Plus, the slim design doesn’t add bulk or feel cumbersome to carry around all day.
Adjective
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Due Amici brings Brooklyn roots and authenticity, right down to the counter service that’s not rude but not exactly warm.
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It’s widely considered rude and annoying when people cluster by the train doors if there are more people on the platform attempting to get on.
Adjective
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Instead of an ungainly pile of pillows, modern buyers prefer to let the materials sing.
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Seydoux tromps through the film with a masculine heaviness — a sense of dysphoria that translates to her character’s ungainly bearing.
Adjective
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As the nation gears up to celebrate its 250th birthday, most Americans feel uneasy about their present, and pessimistic about their future, polls show.
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Sanders takes an uneasy step, into his wonderful, painful childhood.
Adjective
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The anxieties, the mess, the whole unwieldy tapestry of the celebration has nothing at all to do with me.
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An organization with the unwieldy name of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing — NASCAR — was born.
Cite this Entry
“Clumsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clumsy. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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