butterfingered

adjective

ˈbə-tər-ˌfiŋ-gərd How to pronounce butterfingered (audio)
Definition of butterfingerednext
as in clumsy
lacking or showing a lack of nimbleness in using one's hands I'm so butterfingered this morning—I keep dropping things

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for butterfingered
  1. clumsy
  2. awkward
  3. maladroit
Adjective
  • But even those fans of her socially clumsy and feverishly party-planning mayor’s assistant Patricia on that series may not be prepared for her soulful, wrenching work in Mike Leigh’s latest film.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 5 Nov. 2026
  • And given how clumsy its efforts have been, this is clearly the leadership of the Department of Justice acceding to the wishes of the president of the United States even when there is no sound legal basis to proceed.
    — John E. Jones III, The Conversation, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of clumsy
Adjective
  • Mallen Kupferer, the daughter of two theater artists and an actor since early childhood, is a wonder to watch, her performance as authentic and awkward as any teenager.
    — Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026
  • The route passes through neighborhoods including NoDa and Plaza Midwood, offering lively pockets of support but also quieter stretches, awkward turns and hills that can feel particularly unforgiving late in the race.
    — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of awkward
Adjective
  • At her side is her maladroit cameraman Manu, (a winning turn from Jean-Baptiste Shelmerdine).
    — John Hopewell, Variety, 23 Mar. 2026
  • 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
Definition of maladroit
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.

Browse Nearby Words

buttered up
butterfingered
butterfingers
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Cite this Entry

“Butterfingered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/butterfingered. Accessed 12 Nov. 2026.

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