What does clumsy mean?
Clumsy means Awkward, lacking coordination, not graceful, not dextrous..
Clumsy
/ˈklʌmzi/ · adjective
Meaning
Awkward, lacking coordination, not graceful, not dextrous..
Definitions by Sense
- Awkward, lacking coordination, not graceful, not dextrous.
- Not elegant or well-planned, lacking tact or subtlety.
- Awkward or inefficient in use or construction, difficult to handle or manage especially because of shape.
- (informal, fairly rare) A clumsy person.
Example Sentences
He's very clumsy. I wouldn't trust him with carrying the dishes.
It is a clumsy solution, but it might work for now.
What a clumsy joke
The ravviſh danke of clumzie vvinter ramps / The fluent ſummers vaine: and drizling ſleete / Chilleth the vvan bleak cheek of the numd earth, / VVhilſt ſnarling guſts nibble the iuyceles leaues, / From the nak't ſhuddring branch; […]
On the stairs he met Ellen, the housemaid, and as he passed her he knocked the hot-water jug out of her hand. “Well, you are a clumsy,” said Ellen, as she bent down to mop up the water.
Synonyms for clumsy
Antonyms for clumsy
Related Words
Word Forms
- clumsier
- clumsiest
- clumsies
Usage Notes
Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.
Practice and Learn More
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a synonym for clumsy?
Common synonyms include butterfingers, galoot, klutz, bumbling.
What is the opposite of clumsy?
The opposite depends on the specific sense.
How do you use clumsy in a sentence?
He's very clumsy. I wouldn't trust him with carrying the dishes.
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.