clumsy

/ˈklʌmzi/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈklʌmzi/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkləm-zē/ (ame, mw)

clumsy — adjective

  • clumsypositive
  • clumsiercomparative
  • clumsiestsuperlative

1. If someone is clumsy in this way, they often drop, hit, or spill things because

1.形容詞B2
釋義

If someone is clumsy in this way, they often drop, hit, or spill things because they are not careful enough in what they do.

例句

Élise was so clumsy that she spilled soup across the white tablecloth.

so clumsy that + accident result

Kofi knocked over two glasses because his hands were clumsy with the tray.

clumsy with + object while handling it

同義詞
  • careless

    focuses more on not paying attention, while clumsy stresses the resulting accident or physical mishap

  • awkward

    can overlap, but awkward is broader and does not always suggest repeated accidents

  • bungling

    stronger and often about doing a task badly rather than merely dropping or bumping things

反義詞
  • careful

    describes someone who pays attention and avoids small accidents

  • deft

    suggests quick and skilful hand control rather than careless movement

文法句型

a clumsy person

be clumsy and + verb

be clumsy with + object

用法筆記

Usually describes a person whose lack of care leads to small accidents. If you want to stress awkward body movement rather than repeated mishaps, adjective/2 is often a better fit.

常見錯誤

❌The cup was clumsy and fell off the table.
✅I was clumsy and knocked the cup off the table.
💡This sense describes the person who causes the accident, not the thing that falls.

2. If a person's movement is clumsy, it looks stiff, badly controlled, or not natur

2.形容詞B2
釋義

If a person's movement is clumsy, it looks stiff, badly controlled, or not naturally smooth.

例句

Christopher looked clumsy on skates and crashed into the side rail.

look clumsy + while doing an activity

Tariq still seemed clumsy with chopsticks during his first week in Seoul.

clumsy with + tool

同義詞
  • awkward

    the nearest general synonym, but less focused on physical coordination

  • ungainly

    stresses an unattractive lack of grace, especially in large or tall bodies

  • uncoordinated

    more technical and directly about poor control of body movements

反義詞
  • graceful

    suggests smooth and attractive movement

  • nimble

    emphasises quick, light, well-controlled movement

文法句型

look clumsy

be clumsy with + tool

clumsy + movement / step / turn

用法筆記

Common with actions such as walking, turning, dancing, or handling tools. Distinguish from adjective/1, which focuses on the accidents caused rather than the movement itself.

常見錯誤

❌The robot looked clumsy because it moved very slowly.
✅The robot looked clumsy because its arms jerked in sudden, uneven ways.
💡Slow movement is not automatically clumsy; this sense needs awkward or poorly controlled motion.

3. A clumsy remark, action, or way of dealing with people shows poor judgment and c

3.形容詞C1
釋義

A clumsy remark, action, or way of dealing with people shows poor judgment and can easily sound rude or badly timed.

例句

Adina made a clumsy joke about rent while Gabriel was losing his job.

clumsy joke that sounds insensitive

Vikram sent a clumsy apology that mentioned his mistake only once.

clumsy apology = poorly handled message

同義詞
  • tactless

    more directly states that the person lacks social sensitivity

  • awkward

    can fit, but awkward is broader and may describe embarrassment without causing offence

  • inept

    stresses lack of skill more than social insensitivity

反義詞
  • tactful

    shows good judgment about what is appropriate to say or do

  • sensitive

    focuses on noticing other people's feelings and reactions

文法句型

a clumsy joke

a clumsy question

a clumsy attempt to + verb

用法筆記

Often used when the speaker or helper probably means well but handles the situation badly. It commonly suggests both lack of skill and a risk of offending other people.

常見錯誤

❌Her clumsy reply was cruel on purpose.
✅Her clumsy reply sounded rude, but she did not mean it.
💡This sense often suggests poor handling or tactlessness, not deliberate cruelty.

4. If an object, design, or system is clumsy, its shape or arrangement makes it awk

4.形容詞C1
釋義

If an object, design, or system is clumsy, its shape or arrangement makes it awkward to move, control, or use well.

例句

The old vacuum is clumsy to carry upstairs with one free hand.

be clumsy to + verb

Our booking system feels clumsy, so staff write notes on paper.

clumsy system = awkward design

同義詞
  • awkward

    the closest broad synonym for something hard to handle or use

  • unwieldy

    stronger and especially common for large objects that are hard to control

  • cumbersome

    often used for processes or systems that feel annoyingly heavy or complicated

反義詞
  • handy

    easy and convenient to use in practical situations

  • streamlined

    well arranged and efficient, especially for systems or designs

文法句型

be clumsy to use

a clumsy design

a clumsy system / suitcase / menu

用法筆記

This sense is about poor design or awkward shape, not simply weight. A clumsy object can be light but still difficult to use smoothly.

常見錯誤

❌The sofa is clumsy, so please lift it together.
✅The sofa is heavy, so please lift it together.
💡Clumsy here means awkward in design or handling, not just heavy.