different between clumsy vs wanting

English

Etymology

Possibly from an alteration of clumsed (“benumbed”) or from clumse (“a stupid fellow; lout”) +? -y. More at clumse.

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /?kl?mzi/

Adjective

clumsy (comparative clumsier, superlative clumsiest)

1. Awkward, lacking coordination, not graceful, not dextrous.

   He's very clumsy. I wouldn't trust him with carrying the dishes.

2. Not elegant or well-planned, lacking tact or subtlety.

   It is a clumsy solution, but it might work for now.

   What a clumsy joke...

3. Awkward or inefficient in use or construction, difficult to handle or manage especially because of shape.

Translations

Noun

clumsy (plural clumsies)

1. (informal, fairly rare) A clumsy person.
   • 1934, P. L. Travers, Mary Poppins

     “Well, you are a clumsy,” said Ellen, as she bent down to mop up the water. “That was for your father’s shaving.”

Synonyms

• butterfingers
• galoot
• klutz

Translations

See also

• clumsies

Anagrams

• cumyls, muscly

English

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?w?nt??/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?w?nt??/
• Rhymes: -?nt??

Etymology 1

From Middle English wantyng, wantynge, wantand, equivalent to want +? -ing.

Adjective

wanting (comparative more wanting, superlative most wanting)

1. That wants or desires.
2. Absent or lacking.
   • 1813, Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, Modern Library Edition (1995), page 171,

     […] but where other powers of entertainment are wanting, the true philosopher will derive benefit from such as are given.

3. Deficient.

Derived terms

• wantingly

Translations

Preposition

wanting

1. Without, except, but.
2. Less, short of, minus.

Verb

wanting

1. present participle of want

Etymology 2

From Middle English wantyng, wantynge, equivalent to want +? -ing.

Noun

wanting (countable and uncountable, plural wantings)

1. The state of wanting something; desire.
   • 2004, Joseph H. Casey S.J., Life, Love, and Sex

     Choice occurs only when we experience a conflict of wantings.