maladroit

IPA/ˌmæləˈdrɔɪt/
KK[mˌælədrˈɔɪt]IPA/ˌmæləˈdrɔɪt/

maladroit — adjective

  • maladroitpositive
  • more maladroitcomparative
  • most maladroitsuperlative

1. awkward because you move, speak, or handle a situation with little skill or soci

1.形容詞C2
釋義

awkward because you move, speak, or handle a situation with little skill or social ease

例句

Amira gave a maladroit bow, knocking the water glass off the table.

maladroit + noun for a visibly clumsy movement

Karim made a maladroit joke about Sana's exam result during lunch.

maladroit + joke for social clumsiness

同義詞
  • clumsy

    the everyday choice, especially for poor physical control

  • awkward

    broader and less formal; can mean uncomfortable as well as lacking skill

  • inept

    stronger and more critical; often suggests poor judgment too

  • tactless

    narrower; only about insensitive social behaviour, not physical movement

反義詞
  • deft

    suggests quick, controlled skill in action

  • graceful

    stresses smooth, elegant movement

  • diplomatic

    the social opposite; careful not to offend people

文法句型

a maladroit + comment/joke/reply/attempt

be maladroit in social situations or physical movement

用法筆記

Often appears before nouns such as comment, gesture, reply, or attempt when the speaker wants to sound formal and mildly critical. It can describe both physical clumsiness and socially awkward handling, so it is broader than tactless but more literary than clumsy.

常見錯誤

❌The sofa is maladroit in this small room.
✅The sofa looks awkward in this small room.
💡'maladroit' describes clumsy actions, remarks, or people, not objects that simply fit badly in a space.
❌The budget is maladroit because it is expensive.
✅The budget is badly planned because it is expensive.
💡'maladroit' criticises awkward handling or behaviour, not any result you dislike.