as in clumsy
lacking or showing a lack of nimbleness in using one's hands
much too ham-handed to use one of those tiny cell phones
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Recent Examples of ham-handed
Nowhere is the ham-handed effort more evident than in Texas, where a blend of culture war grievance and incel-targeting rage have circled the sharp-witted but mild-mannered Talarico, whose campaign is shaping up to be a fundraising juggernaut.
—
Philip Elliott, Time, 2 June 2026
Who doubts the law would be enforced in a ham-handed way, with people being denied the presumption of innocence?
—U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 May 2026
Even the film’s critic-defying, pinky-swearing fanbase may be disappointed in the barebones production, jarring plotting, tired dialogue and ham-handed staging.
—Frank Rizzo, Variety, 23 Apr. 2026
Or public employee unions might put up the money, given that a Republican winner is likely to create a state version of Elon Musk’s ham-handed attempt to fire nearly everyone on the federal payroll.
—Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
Philip Elliott, Time, 2 June 2026
Who doubts the law would be enforced in a ham-handed way, with people being denied the presumption of innocence?
—U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 May 2026
Even the film’s critic-defying, pinky-swearing fanbase may be disappointed in the barebones production, jarring plotting, tired dialogue and ham-handed staging.
—Frank Rizzo, Variety, 23 Apr. 2026
Or public employee unions might put up the money, given that a Republican winner is likely to create a state version of Elon Musk’s ham-handed attempt to fire nearly everyone on the federal payroll.
—Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ham-handed
Adjective
-
The historic victory, the nation’s first ever in the World Cup, was overshadowed when the midfielder injured his leg in gruesome fashion following a clumsy challenge from Qatar’s Assim Madibo.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
19 June 2026
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Better systems beat willpower as clumsy Chiron enters your 6th House of Work and Health, reminding you that mistakes teach faster than shame.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
19 June 2026
Adjective
-
The awkward situation that Thiago is talking about involves receiving the ball with his back to a player who is closing him down at speed from behind.—
Stuart James,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
-
Almost nine years after their awkward handshake at the 2017 Bastille Day military parade, the two men politely shook hands and expressed their affinity for each other.—
Mabinty Quarshie,
The Washington Examiner,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ham-handed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ham-handed. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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