Clumsy is an adjective used for someone or something that is awkwardNot smooth, comfortable, or graceful in movement or wording., poorly coordinatedAble to use body parts together smoothly and effectively., or not handled skillfullyWith good ability and careful control; in a capable way.. It can describe actions, objects, movement, or wording that feels awkward or hard to manage.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈklʌmzi/
Easy pronunciation: KLUM-zee (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the first syllable.
Adjective meaning not skillful; awkward at doing something.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Clumsy Meaning
not skillful; awkward at doing something
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: showing lack of skill or aptitude
Example: He made a clumsy attempt to fix the leak.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- bungling — Works well for a person’s poor, awkward performance.
- fumbling — Fits when someone handles a task awkwardly or without skill.
- incompetent — Can work, but it is stronger and more about lacking ability overall.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Clumsy
Meaning 2
hard to carry, use, or move because of its shape or size
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: difficult to handle or manage especially because of shape
Example: The old suitcase was clumsy and hard to carry.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- awkward — A strong fit for something difficult to handle.
- bunglesome — Matches the sense, but it is less common.
- ungainly — Works for something bulky or hard to manage.
Meaning 3
said in a way that sounds awkward or badly phrased
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: not elegant or graceful in expression
Example: She gave a clumsy apology that made things worse.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- awkward — A natural substitute for awkward wording or expression.
- ill-chosen — Fits when the words are poorly chosen.
- inapt — Can fit, but is more formal and less common.
- inept — Can work for awkward expression, but often suggests poor skill more broadly.
Meaning 4
moving in an awkward, ungainly way
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: lacking grace in movement or posture
Example: The clumsy puppy kept tripping over its own feet.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- clunky — Can describe awkward movement, but is more often used for objects or style.
- gawky — Works well for awkward, ungainly movement or posture.
- ungainly — A strong fit for awkward movement or body shape.
- unwieldy — Usually describes something hard to control, so it fits less directly.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Clumsy Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- bungling
- fumbling
- awkward
- ungainly
- gawky
hard to handle or manage because of shape or size
- awkward
- bunglesome
- ungainly
awkward or badly phrased in expression
- awkward
- ill-chosen
- inapt
- inept
awkward in movement or posture
- clunky
- gawky
- ungainly
- unwieldy
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Using clumsy only for physical movement. It can also describe poor skill, awkward objects, and awkward wording.
- Treating awkward as a perfect synonym in every sense. It works in several senses, but not always with the same nuance.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does clumsy mean in simple English?
Clumsy means awkward, not skillful, or not easy to handle.
What is a common synonym for clumsy?
Common synonyms include awkward, bungling, fumbling, and ungainly, depending on the sense.
Can clumsy describe words or speech?
Yes. It can describe a sentence, apology, or remark that is badly phrased or awkwardly expressed.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
