as in ineptly
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Recent Examples of clumsily
Completely nude and covered in suds, Jeff makes a run for his secret hideaway in the store, clumsily vaulting himself over a toy rack and makeshift wall to do so.
—
Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Oct. 2025
Nix remained underwater in September as Denver stumbled clumsily into the national spotlight with one win.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 30 Sep. 2025
Never has a snarky, clumsily worded and insensitive-sounding aside caused so much trouble.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2025
Also, later on, Wendy’s questions for Dame feel clumsily blunt.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
Northwestern paid the price for its rash, excessive, clumsily handled and unjustified firing of Fitzgerald, a firing for which the editorial board has again stated its support.
—Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2025
Cracker Barrel proudly announced a new, streamlined, unexciting logo, explained it poorly, defended it clumsily, and failed to recognize that anything remotely resembling a jab at white people, Southern heritage or tradition these days will be attacked as woke.
—Neal Rubin, Freep.com, 28 Aug. 2025
That actuarial promise won’t matter if regulators intervene clumsily.
—Sindhya Valloppillil, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Oct. 2025
Nix remained underwater in September as Denver stumbled clumsily into the national spotlight with one win.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 30 Sep. 2025
Never has a snarky, clumsily worded and insensitive-sounding aside caused so much trouble.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2025
Also, later on, Wendy’s questions for Dame feel clumsily blunt.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
Northwestern paid the price for its rash, excessive, clumsily handled and unjustified firing of Fitzgerald, a firing for which the editorial board has again stated its support.
—Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2025
Cracker Barrel proudly announced a new, streamlined, unexciting logo, explained it poorly, defended it clumsily, and failed to recognize that anything remotely resembling a jab at white people, Southern heritage or tradition these days will be attacked as woke.
—Neal Rubin, Freep.com, 28 Aug. 2025
That actuarial promise won’t matter if regulators intervene clumsily.
—Sindhya Valloppillil, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clumsily
Adverb
-
Dancing the Poznan really ineptly, mind you, but dancing nonetheless.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
8 Sep. 2025
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Somehow this ineptly plotted affair lured Keke Palmer into its lair and her comedy chops all but gets handcuffed by an illogical, unfunny screenplay.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
15 Aug. 2025
Adverb
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Kraft suffered the injury early in the third quarter of Green Bay’s 16-13 loss on Sunday when left guard Sean Rhyan’s right foot landed just below Kraft’s right knee and bent his leg awkwardly while both players were blocking during a Josh Jacobs run.—
Matt Schneidman,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
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Understandably excited, Quayle couldn’t resist a playful shoulder punch to the older, reserved Bush, who smiled awkwardly.—
Time,
Time,
3 Nov. 2025
Adverb
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The now 6-2 Patriots started slow, laboriously taking a 9-7 lead into halftime against the Browns.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
26 Oct. 2025
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The technology is rapidly replacing the old days of crime-scene investigators crafting hand sketches and using tape measures to laboriously take down measurements.—
Sean Emery,
Oc Register,
30 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clumsily.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clumsily. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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