maladroit

/ˌˈmæləˌdrɔɪt/

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.

Definitions of maladroit

1. adjective

   not adroit
   “a maladroit movement of his hand caused the car to swerve”

   “a maladroit translation”

   “maladroit propaganda”

   synonyms:

   bumbling, bungling, butterfingered, ham-fisted, ham-handed, handless, heavy-handed, left-handed

   lacking physical movement skills, especially with the hands

   inept, tactless

   revealing lack of perceptiveness or judgment or finesse

   uncoordinated

   lacking the skillful and effective interaction of muscle movements

   nonmechanical, unmechanical

   (of a person) lacking mechanical skills

   awkward

   lacking grace or skill in manner or movement or performance

   antonyms:

   adroit

   quick or skillful or adept in action or thought

   clean, neat

   free from clumsiness; precisely or deftly executed

   clever, cunning, ingenious

   showing inventiveness and skill

   co-ordinated, coordinated

   being dexterous in the use of more than one set of muscle movements

   deft, dexterous, dextrous

   skillful in physical movements; especially of the hands

   handy

   skillful with the hands

   light-fingered, nimble-fingered

   having nimble fingers literally or figuratively; especially for stealing or picking pockets

   quick-witted

   mentally nimble and resourceful

   artful

   marked by skill in achieving a desired end especially with cunning or craft