as in inexperience
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Recent Examples of clumsiness
For Perssonatti, the disease is more about fatigue, brain fog, word salad, and clumsiness.
—
Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2026
The desire for more speed also demonstrated some of the internal clumsiness Weiss and her close inner circle have lamented on the technical side.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 2 Mar. 2026
This wouldn't come from a place of hostility, but due to his clumsiness and trailing tail.
—Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 27 Feb. 2026
O’Hara sinks into the role, embracing the inherent clumsiness of community theater while celebrating its flaws.
—Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2026
On immigration enforcement—Trump’s signature issue—the brutality and clumsiness of the mass-deportation campaign has decreased public support for the president’s agenda and increased the number of Americans who strongly disapprove of ICE.
—Quinta Jurecic, The Atlantic, 20 Jan. 2026
Complete with easy, unstructured choreography, Fiyero’s loose movement mirrors the Scarecrow's clumsiness.
—People Staff, PEOPLE, 21 Nov. 2025
The clumsiness feels important in other ways, too.
—Clio Chang, Curbed, 23 Oct. 2025
Police in Oklahoma witnessed the clumsiness of nature when a wildlife rescue turned from pure-hearted Disney moment into Discovery channel outtake, video shows.
—Tj MacIas, Kansas City Star, 29 Sep. 2025
Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2026
The desire for more speed also demonstrated some of the internal clumsiness Weiss and her close inner circle have lamented on the technical side.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 2 Mar. 2026
This wouldn't come from a place of hostility, but due to his clumsiness and trailing tail.
—Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 27 Feb. 2026
O’Hara sinks into the role, embracing the inherent clumsiness of community theater while celebrating its flaws.
—Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2026
On immigration enforcement—Trump’s signature issue—the brutality and clumsiness of the mass-deportation campaign has decreased public support for the president’s agenda and increased the number of Americans who strongly disapprove of ICE.
—Quinta Jurecic, The Atlantic, 20 Jan. 2026
Complete with easy, unstructured choreography, Fiyero’s loose movement mirrors the Scarecrow's clumsiness.
—People Staff, PEOPLE, 21 Nov. 2025
The clumsiness feels important in other ways, too.
—Clio Chang, Curbed, 23 Oct. 2025
Police in Oklahoma witnessed the clumsiness of nature when a wildlife rescue turned from pure-hearted Disney moment into Discovery channel outtake, video shows.
—Tj MacIas, Kansas City Star, 29 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clumsiness
Noun
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There is the silence of caution, uncertainty and doubt, of refusal and denial — or the silence of inexperience, ignorance or innocence.—
Cyraina Johnson-Roullier,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Apr. 2026
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However, there’s a vocal cohort of leaders who won’t leave Gen Z out in the cold—and in fact, their inexperience is sometimes seen as an asset.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
These surrenders might occur because of unpreparedness or life changes.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
There’s some rudeness, aggressive conversations, and crudeness, but nothing too over the top.—
Lynnette Nicholas,
Parents,
4 Aug. 2025
Noun
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In 2023-24, seven franchises achieved that level of incompetence, which was the first time that happened since 2007-08.—
Lev Akabas,
Sportico.com,
17 Apr. 2026
-
At least six other Department of Aviation workers were investigated for spending hours idling on the job, demonstrating incompetence, stealing city property, and lying during the investigation.—
Chris Tye,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
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This journalistic cynicism amid government ham-handedness shattered something precious too.—
Gil Troy,
New York Daily News,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Only when Bouzid deals with the repercussions of homophobic Tunisian laws does the melodrama tip into ham-handedness.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The reproduction of systemic racism occurs not simply through white denial but also through the promotion of cultural incompetency.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Mar. 2026
-
The District Attorney’s Office said a finding of incompetency does not dismiss the case or result in a defendant’s release, and that proceedings will resume if Mock is later deemed competent.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
16 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Clevenger said one of the frustrating aspects of his injuries is his inability to catch his twin brother, Ben, a pitcher who also was Benet’s quarterback last season.—
Bobby Narang,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Same inability to rise to the moment.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clumsiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clumsiness. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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