Clumsy

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈklʌmzi/

Definitions

1. Awkward in movement or handling things, often resulting in accidents or mistakes
2. Uncoordinated in physical movements and actions, which often leads to mishaps or misjudgments
3. Lacking grace or skill in physical movement, often causing unintentional collisions or errors

Etymology: The most striking thing about "clumsy" is that its own origin is uncertain, and the leading candidates point to a stiffness of body rather than a fault of hands. One possibility is that it is an alteration of "clumsed," meaning benumbed, as in hands so cold or numb they cannot grip. The other is that it grows from "clumse," an old word for a stupid fellow or lout, with the common "-y" ending added to make it an adjective describing someone who moves like such a lout. Either way, the core idea is a body that has lost its grace. A numbed hand fumbles because it cannot feel what it holds, while a lout is pictured as thick-witted and heavy on his feet. Both explanations describe clumsiness as a kind of dullness in the limbs rather than mere carelessness.

Synonyms: awkward, ungainly, bumbling, inept, blundering

Antonyms: graceful, agile, coordinated, dexterous, skillful