Antonyms for clumsy
| Grammar : Adj |
| Spell : kluhm-zee |
| Phonetic Transcription : ˈklʌm zi |
Definition of clumsy
Origin :- 1590s, "acting as if benumbed," alteration of Middle English clumsid "numb with cold" (14c.), past participle of clumsen "to benumb, stiffen or paralyze with cold or fear," from a Scandinavian source akin to Old Norse klumsa "make speechless, palsy; prevent from speaking," intensive of kluma "to make motionless." For insertion of -s-, cf. flimsy.
- Not in general use until 18c., with senses "manifesting awkwardness; so made as to be unwieldy." Related: Clumsily; clumsiness. Cf. Swedish dialectal klummsen "benumbed with cold," Norwegian klumsad (past participle) "speechless, palsied by a spasm or by fear or witchery;" German verklammen "grow stiff or numb with cold." Also cf. clumse (n.) "a stupid fellow."
- adj not agile; awkward
- "It's the way you're treating me," he cried, with a clumsy man's awkward attempt at gesture.
- Extract from : « Viviette » by William J. Locke
- I appear to have given you offence also with my clumsy tongue.
- Extract from : « The White Company » by Arthur Conan Doyle
- As he was clumsy in finesse, she understood his idea, and her eyes flashed.
- Extract from : « Quaint Courtships » by Various
- The clumsy framework of the receiver was reduced to a neat and portable size.
- Extract from : « Heroes of the Telegraph » by J. Munro
- It was clumsy enough, but in my eyes a marvel of engineering art.
- Extract from : « Ranald Bannerman's Boyhood » by George MacDonald
- What is amiss with your hand, you clumsy rogue, that you should wear linen round it?'
- Extract from : « Micah Clarke » by Arthur Conan Doyle
- Wentworth has appealed to her, and I made a clumsy attempt at an appeal also, but it was of no use.
- Extract from : « A Woman Intervenes » by Robert Barr
- I hurried away, followed by Clara's merry laugh at my clumsy gait.
- Extract from : « Wilfrid Cumbermede » by George MacDonald
- These clumsy craft had cabins, and in some whole families lived.
- Extract from : « The Harbor » by Ernest Poole
- The devil was large and clumsy, but Sun Wu Kung leaped about nimbly.
- Extract from : « The Chinese Fairy Book » by Various
Synonyms for clumsy
- all thumbs
- blundering
- blunderous
- bulky
- bumbling
- bungling
- butterfingered
- clownish
- crude
- elephantine
- gauche
- gawkish
- gawky
- graceless
- ham-handed
- heavy
- heavy-handed
- helpless
- hulking
- ill-shaped
- incompetent
- inelegant
- inept
- inexperienced
- inexpert
- lubberly
- lumbering
- lumpish
- maladroit
- oafish
- ponderous
- splay
- stumbling
- unable
- unadept
- uncoordinated
- uncouth
- undexterous
- uneasy
- ungainly
- unhandy
- unskillful
- untactful
- untalented
- untoward
- unwieldy
- weedy
Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019