clumsiness

American  

[kluhm-zee-nis] / ˈklʌm zi nɪs /

noun

1. awkwardness or lack of skill or grace in movement or action.

   In spite of their large size and reputed clumsiness, bears are fleet-footed.

2. the fact or quality of being awkwardly done or made, or of being poorly contrived, difficult to use, etc..

   The story wasn't bad, but had moments of clumsiness.

   Despite the winning concept of a phone combined with a gaming console, this version was doomed by the clumsiness of its design.

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Etymology

Origin of clumsiness

First recorded in 1650–60; clumsy ( def. ) + -ness ( def. )

Example Sentences

MS is an incurable condition which affects the brain and spinal cord and causes symptoms such as vision problems, fatigue, clumsiness, muscle spasms and urinary problems.

From BBC • Mar. 19, 2026

She spilled Coke on her sari and figured her clumsiness would doom the engagement.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 25, 2025

Some of this clumsiness is simply the endearing choreography of learning something new.

From Salon • Dec. 20, 2025

A child's personality and behavior may change, and clumsiness or stumbling develops between the ages of five and ten.

From Science Daily • Jan. 8, 2024

Furious at my clumsiness, I threw my notebook at her, but it caught her in the small of her velvet back, for she had turned and was flying across the street against traffic.

From "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison