clumsy
Prone to stumbling
Clumsy describes someone who moves awkwardly and tends to knock things over or drop them: a clumsy waiter spilling drinks.
It extends to anything lacking grace or skill—a clumsy attempt at humor, a clumsy apology.
The word suggests unintentional awkwardness rather than incompetence: My clumsy fingers couldn't manage the tiny buttons.
Insensitive in manner
- gaucheSocially awkward, unrefined
- indelicateLacking refinement or tact
- undiplomaticLacking tact or finesse
- inappropriateNot suitable or fitting
insensitive · maladroit · inept · awkward · graceless · ham-fisted · tone-deaf · blundering
Lacking physical grace
- ungainlyLacking ease of movement
- gawkyAwkwardly tall and clumsy
- awkwardLacking grace or ease
- ungracefulLacking elegance in movement
inelegant · maladroit · lumbering · unwieldy · hulking · gangly · lanky · shambling
Lose footing momentarily
- tripPlanned travel somewhere
- fumbleHandle with clumsy fingers
- tumbleUncontrolled rolling descent
- fallDescend under gravity
lurch · stagger · wobble · misstep · slip · shuffle · lumbering · plodding
Accidental liquid release
- dropFall or release
- knock overCause to fall
- breakageAct of shattering
- collisionForceful contact between objects
mishap · accident · blunder · botch · bungle · mishandle · fumble · flub
Awkward, graceless person
- butterfingersClumsy dropper of things
- bumblerHabitually clumsy person
- fumblerOne who mishandles objects
- bunglerInept person
oaf · lummox · galoot · clod · gawk · stumblebum · blunderer · clodhopper
tactless
Insensitive in manner
- gaucheSocially awkward, unrefined
- indelicateLacking refinement or tact
- undiplomaticLacking tact or finesse
inappropriate · insensitive · maladroit · inept · awkward · graceless · ham-fisted · tone-deaf · blundering · heavy-handed
uncoordinated
Lacking physical grace
ungraceful · inelegant · maladroit · lumbering · unwieldy · hulking · gangly · lanky · shambling · plodding
stumble
Lose footing momentarily
fall · lurch · stagger · wobble · misstep · slip · shuffle · lumbering · plodding · heavy-footed
spill
Accidental liquid release
- dropFall or release
- knock overCause to fall
- breakageAct of shattering
collision · mishap · accident · blunder · botch · bungle · mishandle · fumble · flub · gaffe
klutz
Awkward, graceless person
- butterfingersClumsy dropper of things
- bumblerHabitually clumsy person
- fumblerOne who mishandles objects
bungler · oaf · lummox · galoot · clod · gawk · stumblebum · blunderer · clodhopper · dolt
sloppy
Careless and untidy
amateurish · slapdash · haphazard · slipshod · careless · botched · unpolished · clunky · inelegant · makeshift
- clumsinessawkwardness, fumble, stumble, slip, trip
- clumsyawkward, bumbling, bungling, fumbling, graceless
- dexteritydexterous, nimble, agile, adroit, deft
- clumsy peopleklutz, bumbling, butterfingers, bungler, blunderer
- demeanorbehavior, conduct, deportment, bearing, demeanor
- embarrassmentembarrassed, blush, humiliated, mortify, mortified
clumsygraceful
Elegant in movement
agile · nimble · coordinated · lithe · athletic
clumsydeft
Skillful and quick
dexterous · dextrous · adroit · nimble-fingered · sure-handed