clumsy
- 01 A2 Elementary
adj.moving in an awkward way and often dropping things or bumping into furniture.
adj.lacking physical coordination, grace, or dexterity in movement.
Simple“I am very clumsy in the morning and often spill my coffee.”
In context“The clumsy puppy tripped over its own oversized paws while trying to chase the ball across the lawn.”
Antonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.done without skill or care, often hurting someone's feelings by mistake.
adj.lacking social grace, tact, or subtlety; poorly executed in a way that seems insensitive.
Simple“He made a clumsy attempt to apologise, but he only made her angrier.”
In context“The administration's clumsy handling of the PR crisis only served to alienate their most loyal supporters.”
Antonyms - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.difficult to use or move because of its shape or size.
adj.awkward or inefficient in construction or management; difficult to handle due to poor design.
Simple“The old software has a clumsy interface that is hard to navigate.”
In context“The prototype was far too clumsy for field use, requiring two people just to lift the heavy battery pack.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 04 C1 Advanced
n.a person who is often awkward or drops things.
n.an informal designation for an uncoordinated or socially inept person.
Simple“Don't let that clumsy hold the vase; he will definitely break it.”
In context“She was a bit of a clumsy in her teens, but she eventually grew into a professional dancer.”
UsageUsually functions as a countable noun, often preceded by 'a bit of a' or 'such a'.
Synonymsklutz
Possibly from an alteration of clumsed (“benumbed”) or from clumse (“a stupid fellow; lout”) + -y. More at clumse.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.