maladroit

UK: /ˌmæləˈdrɔɪt/ US: /ˌmæləˈdrɔɪt/ ,(mal′ə droit′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

mal•a•droit /ˌmæləˈdrɔɪt/   adj. 

1. lacking in skill, smoothness, or politeness;
   awkward.

mal•a•droit•ly, adv. 
mal•a•droit•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

mal•a•droit  (mal′ə droit′), adj. 

1. lacking in adroitness;
   unskillful;
   awkward;
   bungling;
   tactless:
   to handle a diplomatic crisis in a very maladroit way.

• French, Middle French; see mal-, adroit
• 1665–75

mal′a•droit′ly, adv. 
mal′a•droit′ness, n. 
Synonyms

clumsy, inept; gauche.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

maladroit / ˌmæləˈdrɔɪt/ adjective

1. showing or characterized by clumsiness; not dexterous
2. tactless and insensitive in behaviour or speech

Etymology: 17th Century: from French, from mal badly + adroit

ˌmalaˈdroitly adverb

ˌmalaˈdroitness noun