maladroit
Americanadjective
adjective
-
showing or characterized by clumsiness; not dexterous
-
tactless and insensitive in behaviour or speech
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of maladroit
First recorded in 1665–75; from French, Middle French: literally “clumsy”; see origin at mal-, adroit
Explanation
If you are clumsy, you are maladroit. But the word can mean all kinds of clumsy. Trip over your words? You are verbally maladroit. Stumble in social situations? You're socially maladroit. When someone is adroit, they are graceful and nimble; they show a lot of dexterity. Maladroit is the opposite of that. It means clumsy, but with a hint of overall incompetence. If someone calls you maladroit, or says that you are a maladroit, they're not being the least bit nice. They mean that you've bungled something up with your fumbling.
Vocabulary lists containing maladroit
Take the Bad with the Good: Bene and Mal
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Whoops! Synonyms for "Clumsy"
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2015 Spelling Bee - Words from Round 2
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But even this imaginative choice isn’t enough to enhance Sodroski’s maladroit script, though Kidman does try.
From Salon • Mar. 27, 2025
It’s “Groundhog Day” in Denver with the Broncos’ maladroit offense unable to score and its stellar defense incapable of closing out opponents.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 6, 2022
It may be tempting to point the finger at Gannett as especially maladroit at dealing with the economic and social changes that have forced the entire news industry into a painful retrenchment.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 29, 2022
Even as her voice deepens and her posture straightens out, Hulu’s Elizabeth Holmes looks consistently awkward and maladroit.
From New York Times • Mar. 1, 2022
The first problem is Keegan’s maladroit use of negation.
From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
