as in inexperience
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Recent Examples of clumsiness
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
And this is in addition to our ongoing on-pitch tactical clumsiness and lack of motivation for big games.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025
His uncharacteristic clumsiness amused me.
—Tao Lin, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
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
And this is in addition to our ongoing on-pitch tactical clumsiness and lack of motivation for big games.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025
His uncharacteristic clumsiness amused me.
—Tao Lin, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clumsiness
Noun
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Glenn exchanged inexperience for veteran coaches such as offensive coordinator Frank Reich and quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
23 Feb. 2026
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The 2025 version of Waxahachie only had five seniors on the roster, leading to inexperience and mistakes early on.—
Ishmael Johnson,
Dallas Morning News,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
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These surrenders might occur because of unpreparedness or life changes.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Dec. 2025
Noun
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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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As for the district admininistrative employees, one was allowed to resign at her leisure, without consequences, and others remain employed despite their incompetence.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
19 Feb. 2026
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Why did incompetence feel like the right way in?—
Kennedy French,
Variety,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
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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 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
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Maybe that data suggests incompetency in the sporting director role.—
Ian Nicholas Quillen,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
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But its lofty position is threatened by, among other things, America’s own chronic inability to keep a balanced budget, and the administration’s trade policy is part of what’s holding it back from doing so.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
26 Feb. 2026
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Rust, more than most of the Penguins, has taken the franchise’s recent inability to reach the postseason especially hard in recent years.—
Josh Yohe,
New York Times,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clumsiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clumsiness. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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