adjective

clumsy

clumsy, awkward, uncoordinated

He is a very clumsy person.

He is a very clumsy person.

That was a clumsy apology.

That was a clumsy apology.

to be clumsy to be awkward in movement or handling things He is very clumsy and often drops things.

a clumsy ((sth.)) an action done awkwardly or without skill He made a clumsy attempt to apologize.

Synonyms: awkward, uncoordinated, gawky; Antonyms: graceful, agile, coordinated

From Middle English 'clumsen', meaning 'to be numb with cold'. The sense evolved to 'numb, awkward'.

Imagine a clown ('cl-') trying to climb ('-um-') and slipping ('-sy'). A clumsy clown.

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