Synonyms for clumsy
ˈklʌm ziclum·sy

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:3.3 / 3 votes

1. clumsy

   Awkward, from awk (kindred with off, from the Norwegian), is off-ward, turned the wrong way; it was anciently used of a back-handed or left-handed blow in battle, of squinting eyes, etc. Clumsy, on the other hand (from clumse, also through the Norwegian), signifies benumbed, stiffened with cold; this is the original meaning of clumsy fingers, clumsy limbs. Thus, awkward primarily refers to action, clumsy to condition. A tool, a vehicle, or the human frame may be clumsy in shape or build, awkward in motion. The clumsy man is almost of necessity awkward, but the awkward man may not be naturally clumsy. The finest untrained colt is awkward in harness; a horse that is clumsy in build can never be trained out of awkwardness. An awkward statement has an uncomfortable, and perhaps recoiling force; a statement that contains ill-assorted and incongruous material in ill-chosen language is clumsy. We speak of an awkward predicament, an awkward scrape. An awkward excuse commonly reflects on the one who offers it. We say the admitted facts have an awkward appearance. In none of these cases could clumsy be used. Clumsy is, however, applied to movements that seem as unsuitable as those of benumbed and stiffened limbs. A dancing bear is both clumsy and awkward.

   Synonyms:
   awkward, boorish, bungling, clownish, gawky, maladroit, rough, uncouth, ungainly, unhandy, unskilful

   Antonyms:
   adroit, clever, dexterous, handy, skilful

   Preposition:
   The raw recruit is awkward in action; at the business.

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. clumsy

   Synonyms:
   awkward, inexpert, uncouth, maladroit, botching, bungling, unskillful, unwieldly, unhandy, ill-shaped

   Antonyms:
   neat, workmanlike, artistic, handy, skillful, clever, expert, adroit, dexterous

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. gawky, clumsy, clunky, ungainly, unwieldyadjective

   lacking grace in movement or posture

   "a gawky lad with long ungainly legs"; "clumsy fingers"; "what an ungainly creature a giraffe is"; "heaved his unwieldy figure out of his chair"

   Synonyms:
   incompetent, fumbling, inept, unmanageable, gawky, ill-chosen, bungling, inapt, ungainly, cumbersome, awkward, clunky, unwieldy, bunglesome

   Antonyms:
   felicitous, graceful, skilled, wieldy

2. awkward, clumsy, cumbersome, inapt, inept, ill-chosenadjective

   not elegant or graceful in expression

   "an awkward prose style"; "a clumsy apology"; "his cumbersome writing style"; "if the rumor is true, can anything be more inept than to repeat it now?"

   Synonyms:
   cumbrous, unenviable, feckless, ungainly, ill-chosen, tactless, fumbling, inapt, gawky, awkward, bunglesome, cumbersome, bungling, inept, incompetent, unwieldy, embarrassing, clunky, ill at ease(p), uneasy, sticky

   Antonyms:
   felicitous, graceful, skilled, wieldy

3. awkward, bunglesome, clumsy, ungainlyadjective

   difficult to handle or manage especially because of shape

   "an awkward bundle to carry"; "a load of bunglesome paraphernalia"; "clumsy wooden shoes"; "the cello, a rather ungainly instrument for a girl"

   Synonyms:
   unenviable, ungainly, ill-chosen, fumbling, inapt, gawky, awkward, bunglesome, cumbersome, bungling, inept, incompetent, unwieldy, embarrassing, clunky, ill at ease(p), uneasy, sticky

   Antonyms:
   skilled, felicitous, graceful, wieldy

4. bungling, clumsy, fumbling, incompetentadjective

   showing lack of skill or aptitude

   "a bungling workman"; "did a clumsy job"; "his fumbling attempt to put up a shelf"

   Synonyms:
   butterfingered, handless, ill-chosen, fumbling, heavy-handed, unqualified, awkward, cumbersome, ungainly, bunglesome, unequal to(p), unskilled, bumbling, ham-handed, incompetent, unwieldy, ham-fisted, clunky, inapt, inept, bungling, incapable, gawky, left-handed

   Antonyms:
   graceful, skilled, wieldy, felicitous

Editors ContributionRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. gouche

   Submitted by anonymous on December 28, 2020  

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. clumsyadjective

   Synonyms:
   unwieldy, ponderous, heavy, lumbering, ill-shaped, ill-made

2. clumsyadjective

   Synonyms:
   awkward, unhandy, bungling, maladroit, inapt, unskilful, without dexterity

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. clumsyadjective

   Synonyms:
   ungraceful, lumbering, uncouth, unwieldy, unhandy, inapt, maladroit

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "clumsy":

   awkward, heavy-handed, clumsiness, cumbersome, tactless, inept, sloppy

How to pronounce clumsy?

How to say clumsy in sign language?

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use clumsy in a sentence?

1. Carly Jayne Barton:

   My whole world just collapsed, my legs stopped working. My limbs were very clumsy. I was in excruciating pain, screaming the house down.

2. John Kasich:

   Was it handled in maybe a clumsy way? Okay, so it was, but look, get beyond that. See, that's our problem, Gloria, we spend too much time either trying to be politically correct, play to the cameras, play to our base.

3. E. M. Forster:

   A funeral is not death, any more than baptism is birth or marriage union. All three are the clumsy devices, coming now too late, now too early, by which Society would register the quick motions of man.

4. Casie Copeland:

   If the parties are told if you make this agreement, this report gets shelved forever, then this is an actual incentive, but ... it's all very wishy washy and no one is clear. The way it's been used so far has been rather clumsy.

5. Peter Goldring:

   It's heavy-handed, i think it's clumsy diplomacy.