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clumsily

 - 3 dictionary results

clum⋅sy

  [kluhm-zee]
Use clumsily in a Sentence
–adjective, -si⋅er, -si⋅est.
1. awkward in movement or action; without skill or grace: He is very clumsy and is always breaking things.
2. awkwardly done or made; unwieldy; ill-contrived: He made a clumsy, embarrassed apology.
Origin:
1590–1600; clums benumbed with cold (now obs.) + -y 1 ; akin to ME clumsen to be stiff with cold, dial. Sw klumsig benumbed, awkward, klums numbskull, ON klumsa lockjaw. See clam 2

Related forms:
clum⋅si⋅ly, adverb
clum⋅si⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. ungraceful, ungainly, lumbering, lubberly. 2. unhandy, unskillful, maladroit, inexpert, bungling, bumbling, heavy-handed, inept.

Antonyms:
2. adroit, skillful.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To clumsily
clum·sy   (klŭm'zē)   
adj.   clum·si·er, clum·si·est

  1. Lacking physical coordination, skill, or grace; awkward.

  2. Awkwardly constructed; unwieldy: clumsy wooden shoes; a clumsy sentence.

  3. Gauche; inept: a clumsy excuse.


[From obsolete clumse, to be numb with cold, from Middle English clomsen, of Scandinavian origin.]
clum'si·ly adv., clum'si·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

clumsy 
1597, from M.E. clumsid "numb with cold," pp. of clumsen "to benumb," from O.N. klumsa, intens. of kluma "to make motionless."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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