maladroitly

adverb

Definition of maladroitlynext
as in unskillfully

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for maladroitly
  1. clumsily
  2. gracelessly
  3. ineptly
  4. awkwardly
Adverb
  • That’s how grifters such as Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White, two former NBA players insinuating themselves clumsily into the transgender sports debate, create value.
    — Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • In June, Luna hopped clumsily from one branch to another, bumping Sandy off her perch and sending her to a branch below.
    — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of clumsily
Adverb
  • This kind of beauty has nothing to do with perfection, which is distributed so arbitrarily and approximated so gracelessly.
    — Jia Tolentino, New Yorker, 11 July 2026
Definition of gracelessly
Adverb
  • The collapse of the Constitution’s balance of powers between three branches of government got us into an unneeded war conducted ineptly.
    — Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 15 Mar. 2026
  • Dancing the Poznan really ineptly, mind you, but dancing nonetheless.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 8 Sep. 2025
Definition of ineptly
Adverb
  • That sits awkwardly against the cost case the category was built on.
    — William Jones, Ascend Agency, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Paranormal Activity, the play, builds to the sort of slick and grisly finale that would be just right for the end of a cruel horror movie, but that lands awkwardly onstage.
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of awkwardly
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.

Browse Nearby Words

maladroit
maladroitly
maladroitness
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Cite this Entry

“Maladroitly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maladroitly. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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