Synonyms for clumsy

Synonyms for (adj) clumsy

Synonyms: inept, ill-chosen, inapt, cumbersome, awkward, clumsy

Definition: not elegant or graceful in expression

Usage: 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?

Similar words: infelicitous

Definition: not appropriate in application; defective

Usage: an infelicitous remark; infelicitous phrasing; the infelicitous typesetting was due to illegible copy


Synonyms: ungainly, unwieldy, clumsy, clunky, gawky

Definition: lacking grace in movement or posture

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

Similar words: awkward

Definition: lacking grace or skill in manner or movement or performance

Usage: an awkward dancer; an awkward gesture; too awkward with a needle to make her own clothes; his clumsy fingers produced an awkward knot


Synonyms: bungling, clumsy, incompetent, fumbling

Definition: showing lack of skill or aptitude

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

Similar words: unskilled

Definition: not having or showing or requiring special skill or proficiency

Usage: unskilled in the art of rhetoric; an enthusiastic but unskillful mountain climber; unskilled labor; workers in unskilled occupations are finding fewer and fewer job opportunities; unskilled workmanship


Synonyms: ungainly, bunglesome, clumsy, awkward

Definition: difficult to handle or manage especially because of shape

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

Similar words: unwieldy, unmanageable

Definition: difficult to use or handle or manage because of size or weight or shape

Usage: we set about towing the unwieldy structure into the shelter; almost dropped the unwieldy parcel


Visual thesaurus for clumsy