clumsy
gb/klˈʌmzi/ us/klˈʌmzi/
B1
English
~ 7100
ügyetlen, esetlen, suta, tapintatlan, nehézkes, ormótlan
B1
1
Usage pattern:
[someone] is clumsy
I'm so clumsy—I spilled coffee all over the table again.
Annyira ügyetlen vagyok – megint kiöntöttem a kávét az egész asztalra.
He was a tall, clumsy teenager who kept bumping into the furniture.
Magas, esetlen kamasz volt, aki folyton nekiment a bútoroknak.
Her fingers felt clumsy in the cold, and she dropped the keys.
The puppy is still a bit clumsy when it runs down the stairs.
After the operation, he was clumsy on his feet for several weeks.
Learner examples
I am very clumsy and often drop my phone.
Nagyon ügyetlen vagyok, és gyakran elejtem a telefonomat.
The new student is shy and a little clumsy in sports class.
Az új diák félénk, és a testnevelésórán egy kicsit ügyetlen.
My hands feel clumsy when I try to play the guitar.
The baby is cute but clumsy when he tries to walk.
He became clumsy after he hurt his leg.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use *clumsy* instead of the adverb *clumsily*, saying *"He moves clumsy"* instead of *"He moves clumsily"* or *"He is clumsy"*. Also, some confuse *clumsy* with *clueless*; *clumsy* describes poor physical control, not a lack of knowledge.
Meaning
physically awkward and uncoordinated
Collocations
clumsy child
|clumsy walk
|clumsy movements
|clumsy with his hands
|feel clumsy
|big and clumsy
Synonyms
awkward (Often used for both physical movement and social behavior; here it focuses on physical movement that looks unnatural or uncontrolled.)
Antonyms
graceful (Describes movement that is smooth, controlled, and attractive, the opposite of clumsy movement.)
Themes
daily life
|physical
|health
|daily_life
|body
|core_vocabulary
Definition
moving in a way that is not smooth or controlled, so you often drop things or bump into things
Tending to move in a way that lacks physical control or coordination, often causing accidents or mistakes.
B2
2
Usage pattern:
a clumsy [action/object/attempt]
The company made a clumsy attempt to fix the bug, which created even more problems.
A cég ügyetlen kísérletet tett a programhiba kijavítására, amivel még több problémát okozott.
He offered a clumsy apology that only upset her further.
Ügyetlen bocsánatkéréssel állt elő, amivel csak még jobban felzaklatta őt.
The software has a clumsy interface that is hard for new users to understand.
She wrote a clumsy first draft full of long, confusing sentences.
His clumsy repair of the chair lasted only a few days before it broke again.
Learner examples
The movie has a clumsy ending that does not make sense.
A film befejezése suta, és nincs sok értelme.
He made a clumsy attempt to explain the mistake.
Ügyetlen kísérletet tett arra, hogy megmagyarázza a hibát.
The website looks old and clumsy on my phone.
She gave a clumsy answer and the teacher was not happy.
It was a clumsy plan, but it worked in the end.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think *clumsy* only describes people. It is also very common to describe actions, designs, writing, and tools as *clumsy* when they are not skilful or smooth.
Meaning
made or done in an unskilled way
Collocations
clumsy attempt
|clumsy design
|clumsy solution
|clumsy repair
|clumsy sentence
|clumsy interface
Synonyms
inept (Stronger and slightly more formal; often suggests serious lack of skill or competence.)
Antonyms
skillful (Describes actions or products that show good technique and control, the opposite of clumsy work.)
Themes
daily life
|work
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
done in a way that is not skilful or careful, so it looks bad or does not work well
Made, done, or carried out without skill, control, or care, so that it looks or works badly.
B2
3
tapintatlan
B1
ügyetlen
A2
Usage pattern:
a clumsy [remark/gesture/approach]
The politician made a clumsy remark about disability that offended many listeners.
A politikus tapintatlan megjegyzést tett a fogyatékossággal kapcsolatban, amivel sok hallgatót megsértett.
I tried to comfort her, but my clumsy attempt just made her cry more.
Megpróbáltam megvigasztalni, de az ügyetlen próbálkozásomtól csak még jobban sírt.
His clumsy handling of the question turned a small problem into a public crisis.
She laughed at his joke, even though it was a bit clumsy and inappropriate.
Realizing how clumsy his comment sounded, he quickly changed the subject.
Learner examples
He made a clumsy joke and nobody laughed.
Tapintatlan viccet mondott, és senki sem nevetett.
Her clumsy comment about money made the guests feel bad.
A pénzről tett tapintatlan megjegyzése kellemetlenül érintette a vendégeket.
The manager gave a clumsy answer and the workers were angry.
I sent a clumsy message and now my friend is upset.
His clumsy handling of the problem hurt the team.
Common mistake:
Learners often only connect *clumsy* with physical movement. It is also common in social and emotional contexts for speech and behavior that is not sensitive or smooth. In these cases, *clumsy* does not mean physically uncoordinated.
Meaning
socially awkward or tactless
Collocations
clumsy remark
|clumsy joke
|clumsy approach
|clumsy handling of the issue
|clumsy attempt at a compliment
|socially clumsy
Synonyms
tactless (Focuses more on lack of sensitivity to other people's feelings; often sounds slightly more formal than *clumsy*.)
Antonyms
tactful (Describes someone who is careful and skillful in not upsetting people, the opposite of clumsy comments or behavior.)
Themes
emotions
|communication
|social
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
not careful in what you say or do in social situations, so you hurt or upset people without wanting to
Showing poor social skill or a lack of tact, so that words or actions make situations uncomfortable or worse.
B2
4
Usage pattern:
a clumsy [object/device/shape]
The old vacuum cleaner is clumsy and hard to drag up the stairs.
A régi porszívó nehézkes, és nehéz felvonszolni a lépcsőn.
He carried a clumsy wooden box that barely fit through the door.
Egy ormótlan faládát cipelt, amely alig fért át az ajtón.
The first mobile phones were huge, clumsy devices compared to today's slim models.
She changed her clumsy winter boots for something lighter and easier to walk in.
The tool is powerful but a bit clumsy for delicate work.
Learner examples
This big, clumsy sofa will not fit in my car.
Ez a nagy, ormótlan kanapé nem fér be az autómba.
The machine is too clumsy to move by yourself.
A gép túl nehézkes ahhoz, hogy egyedül elmozdítsd.
I don't like these clumsy shoes; they are heavy and hard to walk in.
He put the clumsy box on the table with a loud noise.
The old camera is clumsy and does not fit in my pocket.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this with the physical-person sense and think only people can be *clumsy*. Objects and tools can also be *clumsy* when they are too big, heavy, or badly designed.
Meaning
large, heavy, and awkward to handle
Collocations
clumsy piece of furniture
|clumsy machine
|clumsy package
|clumsy boots
|clumsy shape
|large and clumsy
Synonyms
cumbersome (Often more formal; stresses that something is large and difficult to move or use, especially in technical or official contexts.)
Antonyms
compact (Emphasizes that something is small and easy to carry or use, the opposite of a large, clumsy object.)
Themes
objects
|technology
|daily life
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
big or heavy in a way that makes something hard to carry, move, or use
Describes an object or shape that is large, heavy, or badly designed so that it is difficult to move, carry, or use easily.
Grammar
Dictionary form
clumsy
IPA
GB/klˈʌmzi/
US/klˈʌmzi/
Syllables & stress
clumsy (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (clumsy)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: clumsy
- Comparative: clumsier
- Superlative: clumsiest
Word family
Forms
clumsier
adjective
clumsiest
adjective
Core family
clumsily
adverb
clumsiness
noun
Expressions
big and clumsy
1/bˈɪɡ ˈænd klˈʌmzi/
fixed phrase
large and awkward to move or use
describes something that is large and hard to move or control in a smooth way
Examples
- The old TV was big and clumsy, taking up half the room.
- These boots are big and clumsy, but they keep my feet warm.
- The new machine is powerful but still a bit big and clumsy.
clumsy attempt
1/klˈʌmzi ətˈɛmpt/
fixed phrase
an unskilled effort to do something
an effort to do something that is not done well or smoothly
Examples
- His clumsy attempt to tell a joke only made everyone uncomfortable.
- The government's clumsy attempt to control prices led to shortages.
- She smiled at his clumsy attempt to fix the broken shelf.
clumsy handling of
1/klˈʌmzi hˈændlɪŋ əv/
fixed phrase
poor or awkward management of something
dealing with a problem or situation in a way that is not skilful, smooth, or sensitive
Examples
- The clumsy handling of the crisis damaged the company's reputation.
- Critics blamed the minister's clumsy handling of the issue for the protests.
- His clumsy handling of the conversation made things worse between them.