clumsy — awkward in movement or manner; lacking grace or skill
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: awkward in movement or manner; lacking grace or skill
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈklʌmzi/
Example Sentences
- My clumsy cat knocked over three vases while chasing a laser dot.
- She made a clumsy excuse about her homework being eaten by her goldfish.
- His clumsy apology only made the situation worse.
clumsy
ADJECTIVE[/ˈklʌmzi/]
awkward in movement or manner; lacking grace or skill

The clumsy waiter trips and sends a tray of drinks flying across the cafe.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Derived from Middle English 'clumse', meaning 'benumbed' or 'paralyzed'. The word originally described the stiffness and loss of sensation caused by cold, later evolving to denote awkward or ungainly physical movements, and eventually acquiring its modern sense of lacking skill or grace.
Breakdown
clumse (benumbed, paralyzed) + -y (adjective suffix forming descriptive words)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My clumsy cat knocked over three vases while chasing a laser dot.”
“She made a clumsy excuse about her homework being eaten by her goldfish.”
“His clumsy apology only made the situation worse.”
“The waiter's clumsy service included spilling soup on two different customers.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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