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; 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

Interest-based consumption is less dependent on debt-fueled housing wealth and less politically awkward than conspicuous luxury.

From Barron's • Apr. 11, 2026

It’s led to some awkward silences and classic prank calls.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

In the moments before class, we unloaded our gym bags and shoes into separate lockers outside of the yoga room while exchanging hellos that I expected to be awkward but somehow felt easy and unforced.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

Materne also highlighted that an awkward transition is taking shape, as software stocks go from being growth- or momentum-oriented plays to being value stocks.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026

And it wasn’t one of his awkward smiles that always made him look like he was trying to keep a spider in his mouth by clenching his teeth together.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

Related Words

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