Ham-handed

Ham-handed describes someone who is clumsy, awkward, and tactless, particularly in their physical actions or social interactions. This clumsiness often results in unintentionally causing offense, making mistakes, or damaging things. The term implies a lack of finesse, delicacy, or skill, and often suggests a heavy-handed approach to tasks or relationships. It signifies a lack of awareness or consideration for the feelings of others and can manifest in a clumsy way of handling objects or social situations. ham-handed behavior is often caused by a lack of practice and a lack of care.

Ham-handed meaning with examples

• He was so ham-handed when assembling the shelf, managing to strip the screws and crack the wood in the process.
• The waiter's ham-handed serving style, constantly spilling drinks, made dining there an unpleasant experience.
• Her attempts at small talk were ham-handed, she kept making offensive jokes and awkward comments.
• The new manager's ham-handed restructuring plan alienated the staff and led to a significant drop in morale.
• Despite his good intentions, the artist's ham-handed brushstrokes ruined the delicate details of the painting.