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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
  • What detracts from the film is the clumsily emphatic foreshadowing of a dramatic plot turn, which is pretty much spelled out by an alarm company technician who sells Miguel on the wisdom of upgrading to a next-level home security system.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026
  • But the law does not tolerate bribery or campaign finance violations no matter how cleverly or clumsily disguised.
    — Darryll K. Jones, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Sep. 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
  • Venus in your daily-life zone connects awkwardly with Uranus in your sign, increasing your appetite for novelty, movement, or a different way of doing things.
    — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Hofmann gives this awkwardly sized puppet life, energy and voice, controlling its body while castmates flit in and out as the manipulators of its wings.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 18 Sep. 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 22 Sep. 2026.

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