CLUMSINESS Synonyms: 28 Similar and Opposite Words

clumsiness

noun

Definition of clumsiness

as in inexperience

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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.

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

Now healthy, his inclusion on the playoff roster would be a gamble that his elite stuff can mask his inexperience.

— Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
The Horned Frogs will try to exploit that inexperience Saturday, but TCU’s secondary has been up and down in the early part of the season.

— Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of inexperience

Noun

For listeners familiar enough with safety systems to fully appreciate the danger, miscommunication, unpreparedness or negligence in these stories, the tales provide riveting entertainment, in their own grim way.

— Brian Laidlaw, Longreads, 1 Sep. 2026
Life has always penalized unpreparedness and lack of diligence.

— byDoug Ashburn, Encyclopedia Britannica, 15 June 2026

Definition of unpreparedness

Noun

At the start of the 1986-87 season, a combination of previous boardroom incompetence and broader economics saw Middlesbrough not just in the Third Division, but with their ground, Ayresome Park, padlocked.

— Michael Walker, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Whereas Putin takes extravagant risks on the international stage but is loath to hold his associates accountable for incompetence, Xi is just the opposite.

— Jonathan A. Czin, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of incompetence

Noun

Court records show DeFoor has a history of criminal cases involving findings of mental incompetency.

— Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026
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

Definition of incompetency

Noun

The constant delay-of-game calls, false starts and inability to get lined up are a special level of alarming for a quarterback who entered the NFL 10 years ago.

— Jason Lloyd, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Among the many glaring issues coming out of the opener, the offense’s inability to sustain drives was particularly galling.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of inability

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clumsiness

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“Clumsiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clumsiness. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of clumsiness

noun

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