CLUMSINESS Synonyms: 28 Similar and Opposite Words

clumsiness

noun

Definition of clumsiness

as in inexperience

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

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

In a sign of Graham’s potential vulnerability, largely due to her inexperience and a deteriorating political environment for Republicans, SLF announced a $5 million ad buy in the state last week.

— Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 14 Oct. 2026
Two-time champion DeWanna Bonner’s extensive postseason experience — her 100 WNBA playoff games are the most in history — does help offset the team’s overall inexperience.

— Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 3 Oct. 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

Treat mistakes as information rather than evidence of incompetence, and people might become more willing to try new things.

— Vinesh Sukumaran, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Connecticut State Colleges and Universities has been revealed as a nest of incompetence in its powerful central office.

— Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 26 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 Bengals beat the Dolphins 31-24 in large part due to the offense’s inability to get the passing attack going.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 11 Oct. 2026
Stroud picked apart the Titans, and only the Texans' inability to convert twice inside the Tennessee 20 in the first half kept the final score from being worse.

— ABC News, ABC News, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of inability

Browse Nearby Words

clumsily

clumsiness

clumsy

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Clumsiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clumsiness. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of clumsiness

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

jilt

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes