as in ineptly
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Recent Examples of clumsily
Fleeing, not quite leaping and clumsily sort of galloping, is no easy matter for a snail (the starfish has thousands of ciliate foot like suction cups), and fighting is pure folly versus so many arms.
—
Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2026
Straight and gay pornography was aired, albeit clumsily censored by the network.
—Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 24 Jan. 2026
Then a new entity clumsily named Netflix intruded with its quantum equation.
—Peter Bart, Deadline, 18 Dec. 2025
As for the fifth dimension, China’s power is having a corrosive effect on democracies, including in the United States, which has clumsily adopted measures that resemble the CCP’s mercenary mercantilism.
—Stephen Kotkin, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Others saw a guy clumsily expressing sincere commitment.
—Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 4 Dec. 2025
Denis and Roger really wanted to try and play the scene through as clumsily and naturally as possible, and Donald had his brilliant idea.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 27 Nov. 2025
But must they be maneuvered so clumsily, and with such a glaring absence of brains or heart?
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2025
There's a reason that people who are intoxicated tend to stumble, fall, or behave clumsily.
—Sarah Bence, Verywell Health, 6 Nov. 2025
Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2026
Straight and gay pornography was aired, albeit clumsily censored by the network.
—Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 24 Jan. 2026
Then a new entity clumsily named Netflix intruded with its quantum equation.
—Peter Bart, Deadline, 18 Dec. 2025
As for the fifth dimension, China’s power is having a corrosive effect on democracies, including in the United States, which has clumsily adopted measures that resemble the CCP’s mercenary mercantilism.
—Stephen Kotkin, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Others saw a guy clumsily expressing sincere commitment.
—Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 4 Dec. 2025
Denis and Roger really wanted to try and play the scene through as clumsily and naturally as possible, and Donald had his brilliant idea.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 27 Nov. 2025
But must they be maneuvered so clumsily, and with such a glaring absence of brains or heart?
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2025
There's a reason that people who are intoxicated tend to stumble, fall, or behave clumsily.
—Sarah Bence, Verywell Health, 6 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clumsily
Adverb
-
Dancing the Poznan really ineptly, mind you, but dancing nonetheless.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
8 Sep. 2025
-
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
-
There were also a lot of members of the press who made the journey to cover the anniversary season, which led to an abundance of articles, videos, podcasts, and pictures of contestants awkwardly holding up pieces of paper.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Feb. 2026
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The scene was much more aggressive as written, but the actors found an awkwardly flirtatious dynamic on the set that felt true to their characters.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
19 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
There is no need to laboriously clean and sand the walls before priming, per Johnson.—
Lee Wallender,
The Spruce,
29 Dec. 2025
-
With buckets and mops, Palestinians laboriously scooped water out of their tents.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
12 Dec. 2025
Adverb
-
The first year back from knee reconstruction is a tough one, and by all accounts, Darrisaw beat the timetable projection by arduously and relentlessly working through his rehab.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
16 Dec. 2025
-
The composite record builds subtly and slowly, almost arduously.—
The Atlantic,
The Atlantic,
4 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clumsily.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clumsily. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
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