CLUMSY Synonyms: 226 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'clumsy' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of clumsy are awkward , gauche , inept , and maladroit . While all these words mean "not marked by ease (as of performance, movement, or social conduct)," clumsy implies stiffness and heaviness and so may connote inflexibility, unwieldiness, or lack of ordinary skill. // a clumsy mechanic

Q: When could 'awkward' be used to replace 'clumsy'?

The words awkward and clumsy can be used in similar contexts, but awkward is widely applicable and may suggest unhandiness, inconvenience, lack of muscular control, embarrassment, or lack of tact. // periods of awkward silence

Q: When might 'gauche' be a better fit than 'clumsy'?

Although the words gauche and clumsy have much in common, gauche implies the effects of shyness, inexperience, or ill breeding. // felt gauche and unsophisticated at formal parties

Q: In what contexts can 'inept' take the place of 'clumsy'?

While the synonyms inept and clumsy are close in meaning, inept often implies complete failure or inadequacy. // a hopelessly inept defense attorney

Q: When would 'maladroit' be a good substitute for 'clumsy'?

In some situations, the words maladroit and clumsy are roughly equivalent. However, maladroit suggests a tendency to create awkward situations. // a maladroit politician

clumsy

adjective

ˈkləm-zē

Definition of clumsy

as in awkward

lacking or showing a lack of nimbleness in using one's hands diamond cutting is no job for a clumsy person

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in uncoordinated

having or showing an inability to move in a graceful manner a clumsy bow clumsy on the dance floor

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as in uncomfortable

lacking social grace and assurance felt clumsy in the unfamiliar uniform

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as in inexperienced

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in cumbersome

difficult to use or operate especially because of size, weight, or design a clumsy contraption, but it got the job done

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as in rude

hastily or roughly constructed a clumsy mock-up of the real thing

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective clumsy contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of clumsy are awkward, gauche, inept, and maladroit. While all these words mean "not marked by ease (as of performance, movement, or social conduct)," clumsy implies stiffness and heaviness and so may connote inflexibility, unwieldiness, or lack of ordinary skill.

a clumsy mechanic

When could awkward be used to replace clumsy?

The words awkward and clumsy can be used in similar contexts, but awkward is widely applicable and may suggest unhandiness, inconvenience, lack of muscular control, embarrassment, or lack of tact.

periods of awkward silence

When might gauche be a better fit than clumsy?

Although the words gauche and clumsy have much in common, gauche implies the effects of shyness, inexperience, or ill breeding.

felt gauche and unsophisticated at formal parties

In what contexts can inept take the place of clumsy?

While the synonyms inept and clumsy are close in meaning, inept often implies complete failure or inadequacy.

a hopelessly inept defense attorney

When would maladroit be a good substitute for clumsy?

In some situations, the words maladroit and clumsy are roughly equivalent. However, maladroit suggests a tendency to create awkward situations.

a maladroit politician

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of clumsy The residents of Mossy Bottom Farm are looking forward to Halloween – until the clumsy Farmer trashes the Flock’s beloved pumpkin patch. — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 18 Sep. 2026 Watson is a decade into this league — and quickly playing his way out of it — making the same clumsy mistakes that plagued Shedeur Sanders as a late-round rookie last year. — Jason Lloyd, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026 Such attempts to touch on the highly personal connections people have to Oasis’s music feel clumsy and forced, especially when juxtaposed with the brothers’ rather anonymous comments. — Elena Lazic, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026 After meeting at a society reception, Henry sets out to marry Henrietta, an endearingly clumsy, overly apologetic botanist with ambitions of discovering a new species of fern. — Air Mail, 5 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for clumsy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for clumsy

Adjective

The Basketmaker—whose skills go far beyond furniture making—weaves her a match, Fiddler on the Roof-like, and the Fisherwoman, after an awkward matrimonial moment, takes Wicker Husband home to her funky little cottage.

— Valerie Monroe, Allure, 23 Oct. 2026
The pushback is awkward for a government that went out of its way to land the project.

— Joshua Hong, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of awkward

Adjective

And it won’t be lost on anyone how uncoordinated the Chargers’ operation seemed behind its new coordinators.

— Mirjam Swanson, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026
And some elements of it seem inarguably true, such as the idea that Clancy’s psychiatric care was woefully uncoordinated.

— Elizabeth Bruenig, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of uncoordinated

Adjective

Enter the fast-growing world of electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, known by the somewhat cumbersome acronym of eVTOLs.

— Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2026
Less cumbersome portable hifi listening Accessibility Innovations improving life for the elderly and people with disabilities.

— Time, Time, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of cumbersome

Adjective

While older generations may interpret limited eye contact, a flat expression or a pause before responding as rude, lazy or unprofessional, that might not be a younger person’s intent at all, Leahy said.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
Bel glows with a kind of rude Californian health and goes once a week for chiropractic adjustments, including of her jaw.

— Alessandra Codinha, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of rude

Adjective

Snow geese are large, ungainly animals, while this puppet one is sleek and white.

— Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 18 Sep. 2026
Another standout scene features Floyd, who looks like a soft, somewhat ungainly middle-aged man, suddenly getting on a pommel horse and doing something extraordinary.

— Dana Feldman, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of ungainly

Adjective

Giving team members insight into what is known, what remains unchanged and what may come next can help people navigate uneasy periods of uncertainty with greater confidence.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Experts say Chinese officials likely felt uneasy about that opening.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of uneasy

Adjective

The exec was brought in to rein in filmmaker spending and streamline Netflix’s notoriously unwieldy film operation.

— Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026
The low-profile design is not nearly as unwieldy as a traditional ruck, so women on-the-go can build muscle while running errands.

— Eliza Thompson, Time, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of unwieldy

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clumsiness

clumsy

clung

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“Clumsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clumsy. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of clumsy

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