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

Clear areas in which Newcastle can improve are hardly surprising, given the relative inexperience across their squad.

— Chris Waugh, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Weaknesses include inexperience on defense, NIL budget After a season that ranked 125th in total defense, Schiano decided to overhaul the coaching staff and turn to the portal for help.

— Everett Merrill, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 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

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 inability to do so has cost Engelbert during her latter years.

— Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Venezuela’s problem has not been a shortage of economists capable of designing sophisticated monetary and fiscal regimes, but its inability to follow strict rules in good times and bad.

— Steve H. Hanke, Fortune, 8 Sep. 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 15 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of clumsiness

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

quorum

Popular in Grammar & Usage

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

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Popular

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

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Games & Quizzes