awkward

[awk-werd]

adjective

1. lacking skill or dexterity.

   Synonyms: inexpert, unhandy, unskillful, inept, clumsy
   Antonyms: handy, dexterous, skillful, adroit, deft

2. lacking grace or ease in movement.

   an awkward gesture;

   an awkward dancer.

   Synonyms: clumsy, maladroit, gawky, ungainly, graceless, uncoordinated
   Antonyms: graceful

3. lacking social graces or manners.

   a simple, awkward frontiersman.

   Synonyms: unrefined, unpolished, gauche, ill-bred, unmannerly, ill-mannered, oafish
   Antonyms: refined, polished, smooth, well-bred, well-mannered, polite, gracious

4. not well planned or designed for easy or effective use.

   an awkward instrument;

   an awkward method.

   Synonyms: troublesome, difficult, inconvenient, unmanageable, cumbersome, unwieldy

5. requiring caution; somewhat hazardous.

   an awkward turn in the road.

   Synonyms: unsafe, risky, dangerous, treacherous, precarious, perilous, chancy

6. hard to deal with; difficult; requiring skill, tact, or the like.

   an awkward situation;

   an awkward customer.

7. embarrassing or inconvenient; caused by lack of social grace.

   an awkward moment.

   Synonyms: touchy, ticklish, uncomfortable, difficult, trying, unpleasant

8. Obsolete.,  untoward; perverse.

awkward

/ ˈɔːkwəd /

adjective

1. lacking dexterity, proficiency, or skill; clumsy; inept

   the new recruits were awkward in their exercises

2. ungainly or inelegant in movements or posture

   despite a great deal of practice she remained an awkward dancer

3. unwieldy; difficult to use

   an awkward implement

4. embarrassing

   an awkward moment

5. embarrassed

   he felt awkward about leaving

6. difficult to deal with; requiring tact

   an awkward situation

   an awkward customer

7. deliberately uncooperative or unhelpful

   he could help but he is being awkward

8. dangerous or difficult

   an awkward ascent of the ridge

9. obsolete,  perverse

Other Word Forms

• awkwardly adverb
• awkwardness noun
• unawkward adjective
• unawkwardly adverb
• unawkwardness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of awkward¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, equivalent to awk(e), auk(e) “backhanded,” (unattested) Old English afoc (from Old Norse ǫfugr “turned the wrong way, backwards”; cognate with Old Saxon, Old High German abuh “wrong, bad,” Old English afu(h)lic “perverse”) + -ward suffix denoting direction; off, -ward

Word History and Origins

Origin of awkward¹

C14 awk, from Old Norse öfugr turned the wrong way round + _-ward

Example Sentences

Trefry likened this awkward time of life to the stage in a butterfly’s development when a caterpillar disappears inside a chrysalis and dissolves into goo before reforming into something entirely new.

Read more on Salon

This kind of knife is clunky and awkward.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But it was an unspectacular session for championship leaders Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who both appeared to be adopting a safety-first approach in awkward conditions ahead of qualifying later in the evening.

Read more on Barron's

It’s harder to succumb to this temptation—or, at least, it’s more awkward—under someone’s judging eye.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

What makes this moment especially awkward for Delhi is the sheer depth - and asymmetry - of the India–Bangladesh relationship, rooted in India's pivotal role in Bangladesh's birth.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• annoying 
• cumbersome 
• dangerous 
• inconvenient 
• perilous 
• risky 
• troublesome 
• uncomfortable 
• unwieldy