clumsy

1 lacking or showing a lack of nimbleness in using one's hands diamond cutting is no job for a clumsy person Synonyms awkward, butterfingered, cack-handed [British], graceless, ham-fisted, ham-handed, handless, heavy-handed, left-handed, maladroit, unhandy Related Words uncoordinated; bunglesome, bungling, gauche, inept, inexpert, unskilled, unskillful Phrases all thumbs Near Antonyms expert, masterly, skilled, skillful; coordinated Antonyms deft, dexterous (also dextrous), handy, sure-handed

2 having or showing an inability to move in a graceful manner a clumsy bow clumsy on the dance floor Synonyms awkward, gawkish, gawky, graceless, klutzy, uncoordinated, ungainly Related Words galumphing, larruping [dialect], lubberly, lumbering, lumpish, shambling, shuffling, unsteady, wobbly (also wabbly) Near Antonyms light, light-footed (also light-foot), lissome (also lissom), lithe, nimble, sure-footed Antonyms coordinated, graceful

3 lacking social grace and assurance felt clumsy in the unfamiliar uniform Synonyms awkward, gauche, graceless, inelegant, rough-hewn, rustic (also rustical), stiff, stilted, uncomfortable, uneasy, ungraceful, woodenRelated Words angular, gawky, lubberly, ungainly; boorish, clownish, uncouth; abashed, discomfited, discomforted, discomposed, disconcerted, discountenanced, embarrassed; self-conscious; agitated, bothered, chagrined, dismayed, disquieted, distressed, disturbed, fazed, flustered, jittery, jumpy, mortified, nervous, nonplussed (also nonplused), perturbed, rattled, unhinged, unsettled, upset; diffident, insecure, meek, modest, self-doubting, timid, unassertive, unassuming, unpretentiousNear Antonyms assured, calm, collected, composed, confident, cool, placid, poised, secure, self-assured, self-confident, self-possessed, serene, tranquil, undisturbed, unperturbedAntonyms graceful, suave, urbane

4 showing or marked by a lack of skill and tact (as in dealing with a situation) a clumsy joke Synonyms botched, bungling, awkward, fumbled, inept, inexpert, maladroitRelated Words amateur, amateurish, crude, green, incompetent, ineffectual, inefficient, inexperienced, unpolished, unprofessional, unskilled, unskillful; careless, sloppy, tacky, tactless, undiplomatic; ill-advised, ineffective, ineffectual, misdirected, misguidedNear Antonyms able, accomplished, adept, capable, clever, competent, consummate, crackerjack, expert, masterful, masterly, polished, professional, proficient, skilled, skillful, talented; diplomatic, easy, effortless, gracious, smooth, tactfulAntonyms adroit, deft, dexterous (also dextrous), facile

5 difficult to use or operate especially because of size, weight, or design a clumsy contraption, but it got the job done Synonyms awkward, bunglesome, cumbersome, clunky, cranky, cumbrous, ponderous, ungainly, unhandy, unwieldyRelated Words uncontrollable, unmanageable; bulky, dinosaurian, dinosauric, elephantine, heavy, hulking, massive; impracticable, impracticalNear Antonyms functional, practicable, practical, serviceable, usefulAntonyms handy

6 hastily or roughly constructed a clumsy mock-up of the real thing Synonyms artless, rude, crude, jerry-built, jerry-rigged, jury-rigged, rough, rough-and-ready, rough-and-tumble, rough-hewn, unrefinedRelated Words defective, faulty, flawed, imperfect; imprecise, inexact; inartistic, undressed, unfinished, unpolished, unworked; amateur, amateurish, inexpert, unprofessional, unskilled, unskillful; primitive, rudimentary; unshaped, unshapenNear Antonyms faultless, finished, flawless, meticulous, perfect, perfected, polished, well-done; adept, adroit, dexterous (also dextrous), expert, masterful, masterly, neat, practiced (also practised), skillful, workmanlike; artful, artistic, sophisticated; exact, preciseAntonyms refined