awkward

adjective

awk·ward ˈȯ-kwərd How to pronounce awkward (audio)

: lacking dexterity or skill (as in the use of hands)

I'm awkward with a needle and thread.

: showing the result of a lack of expertness

an awkward attempt

awkward pictures

: lacking ease or grace (as of movement or expression)

awkward writing

: lacking the right proportions, size, or harmony of parts : ungainly

an awkward design

: lacking social grace and assurance

an awkward newcomer

: causing embarrassment

an awkward moment

: not easy to handle or deal with : requiring great skill, ingenuity, or care

an awkward load

an awkward diplomatic situation

obsolete : perverse

archaic : unfavorable, adverse

awkwardly adverb

awkwardness noun

Example Sentences

I was electrified by what I learned in college. Still socially awkward, I had the bad habit of stopping strangers in the street to pour my heart out about the latest marvel I had learned.

Jaron Lanier, Curious Minds, (2004) 2005 Greene must have known that such men would not spill the beans about his irregular life or ask awkward questions, though Burgess famously teased him for being … a poseur, and was banished.

Paul Theroux, New York Times Book Review, 17 Oct. 2004 On the ground, vultures are hunched and awkward bundles of feathers, but in the air, where I watch them during much of the day, they are magnificent graceful soarers.

Words From the Land, Stephen Trimble, editor, 1988 She is awkward at dancing. He had large feet and his walk was awkward and ungainly. The story contained some awkward writing. She is an awkward writer. The machine is very awkward to operate. I often find myself in awkward situations. He was put in the awkward position of having to write the memo. There was an awkward pause in the conversation. He feels awkward with strangers. See More

Recent Examples on the Web Morgen also includes archival clips of Bowie appearing on talk shows both in the States and the U.K., and, in his shy, awkward way, explaining his ideas about gender fluidity, long before there was an accepted term for it.

Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 16 Sep. 2022 This kind of series used to have to rely on awkward reenactments.

Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 16 Sep. 2022 Adapted from an Alice Hoffman novel of the same name, reviewers have called it out for awkward tonal shifts, but as anyone who has actually read an Alice Hoffman book already knows that's a feature, not a bug.

Debby Wolfinsohn, EW.com, 15 Sep. 2022 That left him in the awkward position on Wednesday.

Josh Boak And Zeke Miller, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2022 And the teaming up of the former vice president and Bolduc may have potentially led to some awkward conversation.

Paul Steinhauser, Fox News, 15 Sep. 2022 And Succession took home Best Drama ending the show with this awkward jab at another succession that took place across the pond.

Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 14 Sep. 2022 The move by Graham, on a day when Republicans had hoped to focus on poor inflation numbers, put some of his colleagues in a awkward political position.

Gabe Ferris, ABC News, 13 Sep. 2022 With someone guiding the analysis, there’s less potential for awkward silences.

Emma Sarappo, The Atlantic, 13 Sep. 2022 See More

单词	awkwardness
释义	awkward adjective awk·ward ˈȯ-kwərd 1 a : lacking dexterity or skill (as in the use of hands) I'm awkward with a needle and thread. b : showing the result of a lack of expertness an awkward attempt awkward pictures 2 a : lacking ease or grace (as of movement or expression) awkward writing b : lacking the right proportions, size, or harmony of parts : ungainly an awkward design 3 a : lacking social grace and assurance an awkward newcomer b : causing embarrassment an awkward moment 4 : not easy to handle or deal with : requiring great skill, ingenuity, or care an awkward load an awkward diplomatic situation 5 obsolete : perverse 6 archaic : unfavorable, adverse awkwardly adverb awkwardness noun Synonyms clumsy gauche graceless inelegant rough-hewn rustic rustical stiff stilted uncomfortable uneasy ungraceful wooden See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences I was electrified by what I learned in college. Still socially awkward, I had the bad habit of stopping strangers in the street to pour my heart out about the latest marvel I had learned. Jaron Lanier, Curious Minds, (2004) 2005 Greene must have known that such men would not spill the beans about his irregular life or ask awkward questions, though Burgess famously teased him for being … a poseur, and was banished. Paul Theroux, New York Times Book Review, 17 Oct. 2004 On the ground, vultures are hunched and awkward bundles of feathers, but in the air, where I watch them during much of the day, they are magnificent graceful soarers. Words From the Land, Stephen Trimble, editor, 1988 She is awkward at dancing. He had large feet and his walk was awkward and ungainly. The story contained some awkward writing. She is an awkward writer. The machine is very awkward to operate. I often find myself in awkward situations. He was put in the awkward position of having to write the memo. There was an awkward pause in the conversation. He feels awkward with strangers. See More Recent Examples on the Web Morgen also includes archival clips of Bowie appearing on talk shows both in the States and the U.K., and, in his shy, awkward way, explaining his ideas about gender fluidity, long before there was an accepted term for it. Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 16 Sep. 2022 This kind of series used to have to rely on awkward reenactments. Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 16 Sep. 2022 Adapted from an Alice Hoffman novel of the same name, reviewers have called it out for awkward tonal shifts, but as anyone who has actually read an Alice Hoffman book already knows that's a feature, not a bug. Debby Wolfinsohn, EW.com, 15 Sep. 2022 That left him in the awkward position on Wednesday. Josh Boak And Zeke Miller, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2022 And the teaming up of the former vice president and Bolduc may have potentially led to some awkward conversation. Paul Steinhauser, Fox News, 15 Sep. 2022 And Succession took home Best Drama ending the show with this awkward jab at another succession that took place across the pond. Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 14 Sep. 2022 The move by Graham, on a day when Republicans had hoped to focus on poor inflation numbers, put some of his colleagues in a awkward political position. Gabe Ferris, ABC News, 13 Sep. 2022 With someone guiding the analysis, there’s less potential for awkward silences. Emma Sarappo, The Atlantic, 13 Sep. 2022 See More Word History Etymology Middle English awkeward in the wrong direction, from awke turned the wrong way, from Old Norse ǫfugr; akin to Old High German abuh turned the wrong way First Known Use 1530, in the meaning defined at sense 5 Kids Definition awkward adjective awk·ward ˈȯ-kwərd 1 : not graceful : clumsy an awkward dancer 2 : likely to embarrass an awkward question 3 : difficult to use or handle awkward tools awkwardness noun as in clumsiness Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance clumsiness gawkiness ungainliness gracelessness klutziness gaucheness ham-handedness disability incapacity incapability gawkishness inability impairment incapacitation heavy-handedness unhandiness debilitation disablement Antonyms & Near Antonyms deftness dexterity nimbleness agility spryness coordination gracefulness flexibility sleight litheness suppleness limberness loose-jointedness See More
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awkward

adjective

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

adjective

noun