MALADROIT Synonyms: 72 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'maladroit' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of maladroit are awkward , clumsy , gauche , and inept . While all these words mean "not marked by ease (as of performance, movement, or social conduct)," maladroit suggests a tendency to create awkward situations. // a maladroit politician

Q: When might 'awkward' be a better fit than 'maladroit'?

The meanings of awkward and maladroit largely overlap; however, awkward is widely applicable and may suggest unhandiness, inconvenience, lack of muscular control, embarrassment, or lack of tact. // periods of awkward silence

Q: When would 'clumsy' be a good substitute for 'maladroit'?

While the synonyms clumsy and maladroit are close in meaning, clumsy implies stiffness and heaviness and so may connote inflexibility, unwieldiness, or lack of ordinary skill. // a clumsy mechanic

Q: When is 'gauche' a more appropriate choice than 'maladroit'?

In some situations, the words gauche and maladroit are roughly equivalent. However, gauche implies the effects of shyness, inexperience, or ill breeding. // felt gauche and unsophisticated at formal parties

Q: Where would 'inept' be a reasonable alternative to 'maladroit'?

The synonyms inept and maladroit are sometimes interchangeable, but inept often implies complete failure or inadequacy. // a hopelessly inept defense attorney

maladroit

adjective

ˌma-lə-ˈdrȯit

Definition of maladroit next

as in clumsy

lacking or showing a lack of nimbleness in using one's hands some maladroit steering on her part caused the bicycle to go crashing into the bushes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in awkward

showing or marked by a lack of skill and tact (as in dealing with a situation) the socially maladroit young man often has a difficult time meeting new people

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective maladroit contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of maladroit are awkward, clumsy, gauche, and inept. While all these words mean "not marked by ease (as of performance, movement, or social conduct)," maladroit suggests a tendency to create awkward situations.

a maladroit politician

When might awkward be a better fit than maladroit?

The meanings of awkward and maladroit largely overlap; however, awkward is widely applicable and may suggest unhandiness, inconvenience, lack of muscular control, embarrassment, or lack of tact.

periods of awkward silence

When would clumsy be a good substitute for maladroit?

While the synonyms clumsy and maladroit are close in meaning, clumsy implies stiffness and heaviness and so may connote inflexibility, unwieldiness, or lack of ordinary skill.

a clumsy mechanic

When is gauche a more appropriate choice than maladroit?

In some situations, the words gauche and maladroit are roughly equivalent. However, gauche implies the effects of shyness, inexperience, or ill breeding.

felt gauche and unsophisticated at formal parties

Where would inept be a reasonable alternative to maladroit?

The synonyms inept and maladroit are sometimes interchangeable, but inept often implies complete failure or inadequacy.

a hopelessly inept defense attorney

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 maladroit At her side is her maladroit cameraman Manu, (a winning turn from Jean-Baptiste Shelmerdine). —

John Hopewell, Variety, 23 Mar. 2026 Michael Strassner, who co-wrote the film with Duplass, stars as Cliff, a physically maladroit, mildly depressive but sweet-natured man whose thick beard and portly bearing suggest Lord of the Rings-era Peter Jackson. —

Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for maladroit

Adjective

This has, in many cases, led to some clumsy looking solutions at venues across North America.

— Adam Crafton, New York Times, 23 June 2026
An early furor over accepting valuable gifts, including designer spectacles and Taylor Swift concert tickets, was followed by a series of policy U-turns, especially clumsy attempts to cut welfare spending that stirred anger in Labour ranks.

— ABC News, ABC News, 22 June 2026