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schlemiel

noun
schle·​miel | \ shlə-ˈmēl How to pronounce schlemiel (audio) \
variants: or less commonly

Definition of schlemiel

: an unlucky bungler : chump

Examples of schlemiel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

 Like Woyzeck himself, Heather Chrisler's Helen hovers between antihero and schlemiel. — Chicago Reader, "Gypsy, Machinal, and three more new theater reviews," 23 Aug. 2017

First Known Use of schlemiel

1870, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for schlemiel

Yiddish shlemil

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