Antonyms for clumsy
ˈklʌm ziclum·sy

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:3.3 / 3 votes

1. clumsy

   Awkward, from awk (kindred with off, from the Norwegian), is off-ward, turned the wrong way; it was anciently used of a back-handed or left-handed blow in battle, of squinting eyes, etc. Clumsy, on the other hand (from clumse, also through the Norwegian), signifies benumbed, stiffened with cold; this is the original meaning of clumsy fingers, clumsy limbs. Thus, awkward primarily refers to action, clumsy to condition. A tool, a vehicle, or the human frame may be clumsy in shape or build, awkward in motion. The clumsy man is almost of necessity awkward, but the awkward man may not be naturally clumsy. The finest untrained colt is awkward in harness; a horse that is clumsy in build can never be trained out of awkwardness. An awkward statement has an uncomfortable, and perhaps recoiling force; a statement that contains ill-assorted and incongruous material in ill-chosen language is clumsy. We speak of an awkward predicament, an awkward scrape. An awkward excuse commonly reflects on the one who offers it. We say the admitted facts have an awkward appearance. In none of these cases could clumsy be used. Clumsy is, however, applied to movements that seem as unsuitable as those of benumbed and stiffened limbs. A dancing bear is both clumsy and awkward.

   Antonyms:
   adroit, clever, dexterous, handy, skilful

   Synonyms:
   awkward, boorish, bungling, clownish, gawky, maladroit, rough, uncouth, ungainly, unhandy, unskilful

   Preposition:
   The raw recruit is awkward in action; at the business.

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. clumsy

   Antonyms:
   neat, workmanlike, artistic, handy, skillful, clever, expert, adroit, dexterous

   Synonyms:
   awkward, inexpert, uncouth, maladroit, botching, bungling, unskillful, unwieldly, unhandy, ill-shaped

Princeton's WordNetRate these antonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. gawky, clumsy, clunky, ungainly, unwieldyadjective

   lacking grace in movement or posture

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

   Antonyms:
   felicitous, graceful, skilled, wieldy

   Synonyms:
   incompetent, fumbling, inept, unmanageable, gawky, ill-chosen, bungling, inapt, ungainly, cumbersome, awkward, clunky, unwieldy, bunglesome

2. awkward, clumsy, cumbersome, inapt, inept, ill-chosenadjective

   not elegant or graceful in expression

   "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?"

   Antonyms:
   felicitous, graceful, skilled, wieldy

   Synonyms:
   cumbrous, unenviable, feckless, ungainly, ill-chosen, tactless, fumbling, inapt, gawky, awkward, bunglesome, cumbersome, bungling, inept, incompetent, unwieldy, embarrassing, clunky, ill at ease(p), uneasy, sticky

3. awkward, bunglesome, clumsy, ungainlyadjective

   difficult to handle or manage especially because of shape

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

   Antonyms:
   skilled, felicitous, graceful, wieldy

   Synonyms:
   unenviable, ungainly, ill-chosen, fumbling, inapt, gawky, awkward, bunglesome, cumbersome, bungling, inept, incompetent, unwieldy, embarrassing, clunky, ill at ease(p), uneasy, sticky

4. bungling, clumsy, fumbling, incompetentadjective

   showing lack of skill or aptitude

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

   Antonyms:
   graceful, skilled, wieldy, felicitous

   Synonyms:
   butterfingered, handless, ill-chosen, fumbling, heavy-handed, unqualified, awkward, cumbersome, ungainly, bunglesome, unequal to(p), unskilled, bumbling, ham-handed, incompetent, unwieldy, ham-fisted, clunky, inapt, inept, bungling, incapable, gawky, left-handed

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. clumsyadjective

   Synonyms:
   ungraceful, lumbering, uncouth, unwieldy, unhandy, inapt, maladroit

Editors ContributionRate these antonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. unwinking

   Submitted by anonymous on January 24, 2021  

How to use clumsy in a sentence?

1. Shavkat Sabirov:

   The worst thing is that this is, at the same time, (a tool of) total control, a clumsy attempt to protect themselves from external threats, and a great opportunity for cyber criminals.

2. Peter Goldring:

   It's heavy-handed, i think it's clumsy diplomacy.

3. Christopher Dunn:

   We think that that has not happened. They’ve been much too fast to pick up kids on unfounded allegations based on clumsy things like a basketball jersey that they might be wearing or something they posted on the internet which falls far short of the sort of evidence you want to see before somebody labels you a gang member.

4. Casie Copeland:

   If the parties are told if you make this agreement, this report gets shelved forever, then this is an actual incentive, but ... it's all very wishy washy and no one is clear. The way it's been used so far has been rather clumsy.

5. John Kasich:

   Was it handled in maybe a clumsy way? Okay, so it was, but look, get beyond that. See, that's our problem, Gloria, we spend too much time either trying to be politically correct, play to the cameras, play to our base.

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