Definitions

clumsy

[kluhm-zee] / ˈklʌm zi /

ADJECTIVE

not agile; awkward

Synonyms

STRONGEST

bulky heavy-handed inept ponderous ungainly unwieldy

WEAK

all thumbs blundering blunderous bumbling bungling butterfingered clownish crude elephantine gauche gawkish gawky graceless ham-handed heavy helpless hulking ill-shaped incompetent inelegant inexperienced inexpert lubberly lumbering lumpish maladroit oafish splay stumbling unable unadept uncoordinated uncouth undexterous uneasy unhandy unskillful untactful untalented untoward weedy

Antonyms

WEAK

adroit agile athletic clever coordinated couth dexterous expert graceful

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

What’s weird and slightly clumsy is that he said he was taking a break from his golf game only to show up on the course with another friend/potential client.

From MarketWatch • May 27, 2026

Once, a uniformed police officer joined one of the services but momentarily forgot to turn off his video, a clumsy reminder for Zion’s faithful that they were being watched.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026

The production is a revival of the disappointingly fussy, clumsy, old-fashioned one by Lee Blakeley the company unveiled in 2013 for Conlon and to celebrate the Verdi bicentennial.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 29, 2026

Where Fausset’s story was clumsy enough to draw immediate institutional embarrassment, Bernstein’s is polished enough to escape the same reckoning.

From Salon • Apr. 6, 2026

With cold, clumsy fingers Marlie unbuckled his pack and pulled out the clothes he had stripped off before the swim.

From "Rowan of Rin" by Emily Rodda

Vocabulary lists containing clumsy

Awkward Moments

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

"Dulce et Decorum Est," by Wilfred Owen

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

List 5

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!