Words / C2

mal-uh-DROYT/ˌmæləˈdrɔɪt/

Maladroit means clumsy and tactless; the opposite of adroit (already in the dictionary): a maladroit joke, maladroit handling. Clumsy and tactless are everyday; awkward is milder. Mal- is the “bad” prefix. Do not call a carefully blunt safety warning maladroit.

Meaning

Clumsy and tactless; not adroit (formal).

Examples

• “A maladroit joke in the equality briefing ended the item.”
• “A maladroit aside in the equality briefing ended the item and started a complaint.”
• “Adroit is deft; maladroit is the stumble, often social. Clumsy is the body; maladroit is often the room.”

Good to know

Clumsy / tactless (formal). Opposite: adroit. Everyday: clumsy, tactless. Prefix mal- (bad). A clear warning is not maladroit.

Near in meaning

clumsy

New