awkward

American  

[awk-werd] / ˈɔk wərd /

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.

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awkward British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of awkward

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; see origin at off, -ward

Explanation

If you are awkward, chances are you are uncomfortable. You could feel socially awkward, like when you forget the host's name. Or, you may feel physically awkward, like when you trip on your way to the podium. Have you ever felt clumsy and that you had two left feet? That is how it is to feel awkward — literally that you are going in the wrong direction. Awkward is an example of a word literally meaning something and then figuratively meaning something related. Its Middle English roots are awke, meaning "backhanded," and -ward, to "go in the direction of." So, if you are feeling uncomfortable, or clumsy, it's probably because your hands are connected to you the wrong way!

Example Sentences

Field said the early days of melding the skunk works team with Ford’s ranks played like the sitcom “Silicon Valley,” in which a group of awkward techies navigates venture capitalism.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 5, 2026

Because we were so comfortable with each other by that point, the conversation didn’t feel scary or awkward.

From MarketWatch • May 5, 2026

If you feel awkward about asking for a discount, just remember: Your grandmother on Medicare might be paying five or 10 times less for the same blood work or MRI.

From Slate • Apr. 25, 2026

Bournemouth pressed in a strict, aggressive man-to-man fashion and as they followed the winger into awkward positions, O'Reilly burst into the open space.

From BBC • Apr. 25, 2026

I’m not being considerate of his time—I’m feeling tremendously awkward about facing Theo, in person, after everything I told him through the door last night.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse

Related Words

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