1
as in awkward
lacking or showing a lack of nimbleness in using one's hands
diamond cutting is no job for a clumsy person
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2
as in uncoordinated
having or showing an inability to move in a graceful manner
a clumsy bow clumsy on the dance floor
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3
as in uncomfortable
lacking social grace and assurance
felt clumsy in the unfamiliar uniform
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4
as in inexperienced
showing or marked by a lack of skill and tact (as in dealing with a situation)
a clumsy joke
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5
as in cumbersome
difficult to use or operate especially because of size, weight, or design
a clumsy contraption, but it got the job done
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6
as in rude
hastily or roughly constructed
a clumsy mock-up of the real thing
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of clumsy
In their cancellation statement this morning, lingering ALF leadership issued Abdel-Fattah an apology for the clumsy ousting and subsequent fallout.
—
Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 13 Jan. 2026
Trump has instead engaged in a clumsy cover-up, insisting that the files are both a fantastical hoax devised by his enemies and also too boring to even merit discussion.
—Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 12 Jan. 2026
But with ample clumsy exposition to provide a refresher, the resurrection of The Night Manager has gone from solidly entertaining to grippingly immediate practically overnight.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 11 Jan. 2026
But in that moment, my 40 years of skiing experience evaporated, and the bulletproof snow and thick crowds transformed me into an anxious and clumsy mess.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clumsy
Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 13 Jan. 2026
Trump has instead engaged in a clumsy cover-up, insisting that the files are both a fantastical hoax devised by his enemies and also too boring to even merit discussion.
—Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 12 Jan. 2026
But with ample clumsy exposition to provide a refresher, the resurrection of The Night Manager has gone from solidly entertaining to grippingly immediate practically overnight.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 11 Jan. 2026
But in that moment, my 40 years of skiing experience evaporated, and the bulletproof snow and thick crowds transformed me into an anxious and clumsy mess.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clumsy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clumsy
Adjective
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Scenes around the dinner table are awkward to say the least, but Meg has a big supporter in bestie Penny (Sophia Torres) and a burning desire to bring this show to life against all odds.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
26 Jan. 2026
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All four athletes stood together, smiling for photos through an undeniably awkward situation.—
Natasha O'Neill,
Vanity Fair,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Experts said the leaderless and uncoordinated movement turned violent as economic protests intertwined with political ones.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
8 Jan. 2026
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Last August, this problem became critical in Xinjiang, where uncoordinated wind generation caused low-frequency oscillations that threatened the broader national network.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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When they’re installed without fixing underlying issues, homeowners can end up disappointed, uncomfortable or paying more than expected.—
Brynn Cooksey,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Lenses can crack, and frames can crack or warp in a way that makes wearing them difficult or uncomfortable.—
Alexis Simmerman,
Austin American Statesman,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Others utilize passive mechanical structures that are often cumbersome and can’t shift shape in real time.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Jan. 2026
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Bleach solutions also work but are more cumbersome and require a several-minute soak time.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The orderly, progressive, and highly institutionalized blending of electoral politics with stable administrative states that dominated Western European and American politics for the past half century shares little with this rude and revolutionary force.—
Walter Russell Mead,
The Atlantic,
24 Jan. 2026
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Audrey and Eli’s first meeting is a contentious one, with accusations and rude words and eventually pieces of fruit getting thrown around in all directions.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The movie begins in 1989, when Martin was just out of her teens and fighting in Toughwoman contests, and spans 22 years, providing all sorts of opportunities for ungainly period hairstyles, from a ragged pageboy to a curly mullet to a frizzy shag.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
7 Nov. 2025
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All loads easier than wrangling an ungainly bird half the table doesn’t really much care for anyway (what?—
Shilpa Uskokovic,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Chalk the moves up to uneasy investors.—
Brandon Kochkodin,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
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Kelly and King shake things up around the half-hour mark by venturing into the real world, where Grace (Cristin Milioti), the mother of two boys unusually far apart in age, starts being overcome by uneasy feelings about a cold dark void.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Remote online hearings, once considered unwieldy at best and unworkable at worst, became possible.—
Keith M. Phaneuf,
Hartford Courant,
26 Jan. 2026
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This is the Goldilocks board—substantial without being unwieldy, and priced right for most home cooks.—
Lizzy Briskin,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clumsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clumsy. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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