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Glite Dictionary
ham-handedness

ham-handedness

8.8
Clumsy or awkward way of doing things that causes problems
  • noun
  • /hæmˈhændɪdnəs/
  • Offensive
translation icon : torpeza (informal, despectivo)
  • His ham-handedness during negotiations upset the entire team.

Examples

  • Her ham-handedness in handling delicate matters caused unnecessary problems.

  • Critics often point to the ham-handedness of the film's approach to complex issues.

  • His ham-handedness was evident during the presentation.

  • She approached the task with such ham-handedness that everyone noticed.

  • His ham-handedness during the presentation made it difficult for the audience to take him seriously.

  • Her ham-handedness in organizing the event led to several mistakes and complaints from the guests.

  • The manager's ham-handedness in dealing with the employee's concern only escalated the situation.

Synonyms

clumsiness
vsham-handedness
3 3.3

Lack of smooth, graceful movement or behavior that looks awkward

is about poor handling of situations or tasks rather than only movement
awkwardness
vsham-handedness
1 3.6

Lack of skill or grace when moving, often causing trips

is specifically about clumsy handling of tasks and situations
heavy-handedness
vsham-handedness
1 7.6

Being too forceful and not subtle in actions or words

is about lack of delicacy in handling tasks rather than deliberate force
ham-fistedness
vsham-handedness
  • Offensive
9.3

A lack of skill causing clumsy actions that make things worse

is clumsy in handling without always causing forceful results

Antonyms

delicacy
12 5.8

Skill and care when dealing with people or difficult situations

How Clumsy

ineptitude
18 7.4
ham-handedness
  • Offensive
8.8
clumsiness
1 2.6
awkwardness
1 3.6
dexterity
16 5.3

Surface Forms

ham-handedness singular
ham-handednesses plural

Morphology

ham-handedness = ham-handed (semi-transparent) = ham + hand + ed + ness

The derivation from the adjective 'ham-handed' by adding '-ness' is regular, but the adjective itself ('ham' + 'handed') is only partly predictable in meaning for learners.

Etymology

Ham-handedness mixes ham, which means a large piece of meat, and handedness 'way of using the hands'. Think of someone with big, heavy hands trying to do fine work, and that's why the word means being 'clumsy'.