shlemiel

1 9.9

A clumsy person who often makes mistakes and causes small accidents

noun
/ʃləˈmiːl/

Offensive

: patoso

These shlemiels and their kvetching!

Examples

"Shlemiel.

Fiction book (2000)
He always trips over his own feet; he really is a clumsy shlemiel.
Every time she tries to cook, something goes wrong; she's such a shlemiel in the kitchen.
Despite having good intentions, he often ends up being a shlemiel during group projects.

Synonyms

screw-up

vsshlemiel

Offensive

19 7.0

A person who often makes mistakes in important situations

is about repeated everyday bungling rather than occasional major failures

shmuck

vsshlemiel

Offensive

4 9.9

A rude or foolish person who annoys others

is mainly about clumsiness and repeated mistakes rather than obnoxiousness

schlemiel

vsshlemiel

Offensive

2 9.9

A person who is often clumsy and makes mistakes

is the same meaning but spelled in a variant form

stumbler

vsshlemiel

1 7.5

A person who often makes mistakes because they lack skill

is clumsy in habit rather than primarily unskilled

schlimazel

vsshlemiel

Slang

1 9.9

A person who is always unlucky and often has bad things happen to them

emphasizes clumsy repeated bungling rather than ongoing misfortune

shmo

vsshlemiel

Offensive

1 9.9

A person who is foolish and annoys other people

focuses on clumsy, unlucky habit rather than general rudeness

shlepper

vsshlemiel

Offensive

1 9.9

A person who is clumsy and looks a little silly

centres on repeated clumsiness rather than social dislike

shlimazel

vsshlemiel

Offensive

1 9.9

A person who has very bad luck and often fails

focuses on repeated clumsiness and mistakes rather than destiny

shlep

vsshlemiel

Offensive

1 9.9

A person who is clumsy or foolish

focuses on habitual bungling rather than mere foolishness

Antonyms

pro

Informal

508 3.7

A person who is paid to do something they are very good at

expert

165 3.5

Very skilled and knowing a lot about a particular area

How Clumsy

incompetent person

3 3.7

shlemiel

Offensive

1 9.9

klutz

Offensive

21 8.2

bungler

2 7.8

Surface Forms

shlemiel singular

shlemiels plural

Etymology

Shlemiel comes from Yiddish and means a 'clumsy' or 'unlucky' person. A helpful way to remember it is the old joke where the shlemiel is the one who 'spills the soup' while the schlimazel is the one it spills on, so shlemiel is someone who keeps making mistakes or bungling things.