Clumsy Meaning
/ˈklʌmzi/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjAwkward, lacking coordination, not graceful, not dextrous.
adjNot elegant or well-planned, lacking tact or subtlety.
Sentence Examples
The clumsy man envied her extraordinary talent.
This scheme is clumsy production wise.
Her movements were awkward and her gesture clumsy.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ waiter tripped over a chair and spilled soup on a guest.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
I am very ____ and often drop things on the kitchen floor now.
Word Origin & History
Possibly from an alteration of clumsed (“benumbed”) or from clumse (“a stupid fellow; lout”) + -y. More at clumse.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The ravviſh danke of clumzie vvinter ramps / The fluent ſummers vaine: and drizling ſleete / Chilleth the vvan bleak cheek of the numd earth, / VVhilſt ſnarling guſts nibble the iuyceles leaues, / From the nak't ſhuddring branch; […]"
— 1600 or 1601 (date written), I. M. [i.e., John Marston], “The Prologue”, in Antonios Reuenge. The Second Part. […], London: […] [Richard Bradock] for Thomas Fisher, and are to be soulde [by Matthew Lownes] […], published 1602, →OCLC, signature A2, recto:
"On the stairs he met Ellen, the housemaid, and as he passed her he knocked the hot-water jug out of her hand. “Well, you are a clumsy,” said Ellen, as she bent down to mop up the water."
— 1934, P[amela] L[yndon] Travers, “Bad Tuesday”, in Mary Poppins (Mary Poppins; 1), London: Gerald Howe Ltd […], →OCLC, page 82:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ waiter tripped over a chair and spilled soup on a guest.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
I am very ____ and often drop things on the kitchen floor now.