Clumsy — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈkləm-zē/ clum·sy

Meaning & Definition of Clumsy

Clumsy (adjective)

  1. lacking dexterity, nimbleness, or grace
  2. lacking tact or subtlety
  3. awkward or inefficient in use or construction, unwieldy

Clumsy (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. lacking or showing a lack of nimbleness in using one's hands

    "diamond cutting is no job for a clumsy person"

    similar: awkward, butterfingered, cack-handed (British), graceless, ham-fisted, ham-handed, handless, heavy-handed, left-handed, maladroit, unhandy, all thumbs
    related: uncoordinated, bunglesome, bungling, gauche, inept, inexpert, unskilled, unskillful
    opposite: deft, dexterous, handy, sure-handed
    near: expert, masterly, skilled, skillful, coordinated

  2. having or showing an inability to move in a graceful manner

    "a clumsy bow"

    "clumsy on the dance floor"

    similar: awkward, gawkish, gawky, graceless, klutzy, uncoordinated, ungainly
    related: galumphing, larruping (dialect), lubberly, lumbering, lumpish, shambling, shuffling, unsteady, wobbly
    opposite: coordinated, graceful
    near: light, light-footed, lissome, lithe, nimble, sure-footed

  3. lacking social grace and assurance

    "felt clumsy in the unfamiliar uniform"

    similar: awkward, gauche, graceless, inelegant, rough-hewn, rustic, stiff, stilted, uncomfortable, uneasy, ungraceful, wooden
    related: angular, gawky, lubberly, ungainly, boorish, clownish, uncouth, abashed, discomfited, discomforted, discomposed, disconcerted, discountenanced, embarrassed, self-conscious, agitated, bothered, chagrined, dismayed, disquieted, distressed, disturbed, fazed, flustered, jittery, jumpy, mortified, nervous, nonplussed, perturbed, rattled, unhinged, unsettled, upset, diffident, insecure, meek, modest, self-doubting, timid, unassertive, unassuming, unpretentious
    opposite: graceful, suave, urbane
    near: assured, calm, collected, composed, confident, cool, placid, poised, secure, self-assured, self-confident, self-possessed, serene, tranquil, undisturbed, unperturbed

  4. showing or marked by a lack of skill and tact (as in dealing with a situation)

    "a clumsy joke"

    similar: awkward, botched, bungling, fumbled, inept, inexpert, maladroit
    related: amateur, amateurish, crude, green, incompetent, ineffectual, inefficient, inexperienced, unpolished, unprofessional, unskilled, unskillful, careless, sloppy, tacky, tactless, undiplomatic, ill-advised, ineffective, misdirected, misguided
    opposite: adroit, deft, dexterous, facile
    near: able, accomplished, adept, capable, clever, competent, consummate, crackerjack, expert, masterful, masterly, polished, professional, proficient, skilled, skillful, talented, diplomatic, easy, effortless, gracious, smooth, tactful

  5. difficult to use or operate especially because of size, weight, or design

    "a clumsy contraption, but it got the job done"

    similar: awkward, bunglesome, clunky, cranky, cumbersome, cumbrous, ponderous, ungainly, unhandy, unwieldy
    related: uncontrollable, unmanageable, bulky, dinosaurian, dinosauric, elephantine, heavy, hulking, massive, impracticable, impractical
    opposite: handy
    near: functional, practicable, practical, serviceable, useful

  6. hastily or roughly constructed

    "a clumsy mock-up of the real thing"

    similar: artless, crude, jerry-built, jerry-rigged, jury-rigged, rough, rough-and-ready, rough-and-tumble, rough-hewn, rude, unrefined
    related: defective, faulty, flawed, imperfect, imprecise, inexact, inartistic, undressed, unfinished, unpolished, unworked, amateur, amateurish, inexpert, unprofessional, unskilled, unskillful, primitive, rudimentary, unshaped, unshapen
    opposite: refined
    near: faultless, finished, flawless, meticulous, perfect, perfected, polished, well-done, adept, adroit, dexterous, expert, masterful, masterly, neat, practiced, skillful, workmanlike, artful, artistic, sophisticated, exact, precise

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Clumsy

The most common words with a similar meaning to Clumsy:

British: cack-handed
awkward, butterfingered, graceless, ham-fisted, ham-handed, handless, heavy-handed, left-handed, maladroit, unhandy, gawkish, gawky, klutzy, uncoordinated, ungainly, gauche, inelegant, rough-hewn, rustic, stiff, stilted, uncomfortable, uneasy, ungraceful, wooden, botched, bungling, fumbled, inept, inexpert, bunglesome, clunky, cranky, cumbersome, cumbrous, ponderous, unwieldy, artless, crude, jerry-built

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Clumsy

Words with the opposite meaning of Clumsy:

deft, dexterous, handy, sure-handed, coordinated, graceful, suave, urbane, adroit, facile, refined

Related Words for Clumsy

unskilled, unskillful, galumphing, larruping, lubberly, lumbering, lumpish, shambling, shuffling, unsteady, wobbly, angular, boorish, clownish, uncouth, abashed, discomfited, discomforted, discomposed, disconcerted, discountenanced, embarrassed, self-conscious, agitated, bothered, chagrined, dismayed, disquieted, distressed, disturbed

Near Antonyms of Clumsy

expert, masterly, skilled, skillful, light, light-footed, lissome, lithe, nimble, sure-footed, assured, calm, collected, composed, confident, cool, placid, poised, secure, self-assured, self-confident, self-possessed, serene, tranquil, undisturbed, unperturbed, able, accomplished, adept, capable

Word Forms of Clumsy

Inflections: clumsier, clumsiest

Derived words: clumsily (adverb), clumsiness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Clumsy

probably from obsolete English clumse benumbed with cold

First known use: circa 1598

Frequently Asked Questions about Clumsy

What does "Clumsy" mean?

"Clumsy" means lacking dexterity, nimbleness, or grace. As an adjective, it is defined as: lacking dexterity, nimbleness, or grace. It has 6 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Clumsy"?

Other words for "Clumsy" include awkward, butterfingered, cack-handed, graceless, ham-fisted, ham-handed, handless and heavy-handed. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Clumsy" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Clumsy"?

There are 143 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Clumsy". Common alternatives include awkward, butterfingered, cack-handed, graceless, ham-fisted, ham-handed, handless, heavy-handed, left-handed and maladroit.

What is the opposite of "Clumsy"?

Antonyms of "Clumsy" include deft, dexterous, handy, sure-handed, coordinated, graceful, suave and urbane. Near antonyms include expert, masterly, skilled and skillful.

How do you use "Clumsy" in a sentence?

Examples of "Clumsy" in a sentence: "diamond cutting is no job for a clumsy person"; "a clumsy bow"; "clumsy on the dance floor".

Is "Clumsy" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Clumsy" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Clumsy"?

"Clumsy" is pronounced /ˈkləm-zē/ and divided into syllables as clum·sy.

What is the origin of the word "Clumsy"?

"Clumsy" comes from probably from obsolete English clumse benumbed with cold. First known use: circa 1598.