ham-handedness
Lacking fine touch
Ham-handedness is clumsy, graceless handling of a situation or task.
The term suggests someone acting with the delicacy of a ham—blunt and indelicate where finesse is needed: The ham-handedness of his apology only made things worse.
It applies equally to physical clumsiness and social or diplomatic blundering.
Mishandling through incompetence
- ineptLacking skill or competence
- unskillfulLacking trained ability
- amateurishLacking professional skill
- ineffectiveLacking power to achieve
maladroit · botching · inexpert · fumbling · hapless · incapable · unqualified · unprofessional
Clumsy dropper of things
- fumblingClumsy, uncoordinated handling
- stumblingWalking clumsily, almost falling
- ungainlyLacking ease of movement
- gracelessLacking smoothness or charm
lumbering · gawky · uncoordinated · klutzy · oafish · clodhopping · ungraceful · lurching
Clumsy social error
- faux pasSocial misstep or indiscretion
- misstepError in action or judgment
- slip-upSmall unintended error
- blooperEmbarrassing recorded mistake
flub · goof · snafu · screw-up · botch · mishap · mistake · error
Lacking refinement or tact
- crudeUnpolished, raw state
- undiplomaticLacking tact or finesse
- insensitiveUnaware of others' emotions
- gaucheSocially awkward, unrefined
boorish · blunt · unsubtle · thoughtless · tone-deaf · foot-in-mouth · offensive · inconsiderate
bungling
Mishandling through incompetence
- ineptLacking skill or competence
- unskillfulLacking trained ability
- amateurishLacking professional skill
ineffective · maladroit · botching · inexpert · fumbling · hapless · incapable · unqualified · unprofessional · slipshod
butterfingers
Clumsy dropper of things
- fumblingClumsy, uncoordinated handling
- stumblingWalking clumsily, almost falling
- ungainlyLacking ease of movement
graceless · lumbering · gawky · uncoordinated · klutzy · oafish · clodhopping · ungraceful · lurching · tripping
gaffe
Clumsy social error
- faux pasSocial misstep or indiscretion
- misstepError in action or judgment
- slip-upSmall unintended error
blooper · flub · goof · snafu · screw-up · botch · mishap · mistake · error · oversight
indelicate
Lacking refinement or tact
- crudeUnpolished, raw state
- undiplomaticLacking tact or finesse
- insensitiveUnaware of others' emotions
gauche · boorish · blunt · unsubtle · thoughtless · tone-deaf · foot-in-mouth · offensive · inconsiderate · brash
- lack of skillincompetence, ineptitude, clumsiness, awkwardness, inexperience
ham-handednessdeftness
Skillful ease of movement
dexterity · nimbleness · adroitness · sure-handedness · delicacy
ham-handednessfinesse
Subtle, deft handling
elegance · skillfulness · deftness · artfulness · sophistication
hams, hand, hands, handed, handing, handy, handily, handiness, handler