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ham-fisted. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
ham-fisted, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
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English
Alternative forms
Etymology
From ham (“overacting inferior performer; actor of low grade; incompetent pugilist”) + fisted.
Adjective
ham-fisted (comparative more ham-fisted, superlative most ham-fisted)
- Lacking skill in physical movement, especially with the hands.
- Synonyms: cack-handed, clumsy, ham-handed, mutton-fisted
- Antonyms: dexterous, skillful
- (by extension) Lacking skill in general.
- Synonyms: bungling, incompetent
- Antonym: skillful
2008 December 6, “Jean has done Canada a favour”, in Kingston Whig-Standard:Harper has a few weeks' grace, during which he and his ham-fisted finance minister, Jim Flaherty, can ponder the error of their ways.
2019 November 13, Dorian Lynskey, “Bowie’s Books and Why Bowie Matters review – a manic turnover of new ideas”, in The Guardian:She had rebuffed every request since the hamfisted 1956 movie version starring Edmond O’Brien, and was never likely to make an exception for a glam-rock dandy, but he was sorely aggrieved.
2023 September 6, Nigel Harris, “Comment: Leaderless and rudderless”, in RAIL, number 991, page 3:What an utter farce. Just like DfT's ham-fisted, blundering ticket office closure programme.
Translations
lacking skill in physical movement
Anagrams