CLUMSINESS Synonyms: 28 Similar and Opposite Words

clumsiness

noun

Definition of clumsiness

as in inexperience

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Recent Examples of clumsiness Not for the first time, the president’s clumsiness is likely to negate his malevolence, though not without considerable cost, in time and money, to Comey. — Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026 Let a hypothermic victim get some sleep After the shivering, confusion, slurred speech, and clumsiness of hypothermia have manifested, an exposure victim also gets drowsy. — Tim MacWelch, Outdoor Life, 15 July 2026 In January 2024, Lola was diagnosed with leukemia after her parents initially mistook bruises appearing across her body for childhood clumsiness. — Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 25 May 2026 The tree, which graces a botanical garden, bears patient witness to all manner of human clumsiness. — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 8 May 2026 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 Technology is closing that gap, not through virtue, but through clumsiness. — Dr. Aditya Vikram Kashyap, Forbes.com, 25 Feb. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for clumsiness

Noun

Douglas shows his skills and inexperience Rookie wide receiver Caleb Douglas, the third-round pick, flashed some good and bad Friday, which has been his story in training camp.

— Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2026
Eldridge, Gilbert, Hill, Seymour and Smith are among those in the clubhouse who have played a good chunk of games at Triple-A Sacramento this season, a reminder of their inexperience.

— Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of inexperience

Noun

Every dollar lost to fraud or administrative incompetence is a dollar unavailable for legitimate patients, families and vulnerable Americans.

— Sreedhar Potarazu, Baltimore Sun, 19 Aug. 2026
No matter what people think about the party out of power, the level of waste, fraud, corruption and incompetence that permeates our state government should make voters consider something new in November.

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of incompetence

Noun

Those forms are not pertinent to the finding of incompetency and are therefore subject to the open records law, Ziegler and Bradley wrote.

— Scott Bauer, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
Federal agents have descended upon the home of Cindy Rodriguez Singh, the North Texas mom who was recently sent to a state hospital after an incompetency ruling in the murder of her young son.

— Matthew Ablon, CBS News, 12 May 2026

Definition of incompetency

Noun

The inability of the United States to protect its Gulf allies from Iranian attacks or to keep the Strait of Hormuz open has fatally undermined the core security bargain that justified its network of military bases in the region.

— MARC LYNCH, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026
Feelings of anxiety often point to uncertainty rather than inability.

— Naira Velumyan, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of inability

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clumsily

clumsiness

clumsy

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Style

“Clumsiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clumsiness. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of clumsiness

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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