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

OTHER WORDS FROM awkward

awk·ward·ly, adverbawk·ward·ness, nounun·awk·ward, adjectiveun·awk·ward·ly, adverb

un·awk·ward·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use awkward in a sentence

Lucia said their initial interaction felt tense and awkward — but it helped that they were wearing nearly the same color and style of ankle boots.
Date Lab update: Their boots matched, at least! Here’s what happened next.|Damona Hoffman|November 12, 2020|Washington Post
Between those two things, there was almost no way to stop the timing from being very awkward.
Pfizer’s Vaccine Announcement Was Always Going To Be Political|Maggie Koerth (maggie.koerth-baker@fivethirtyeight.com)|November 10, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
Being able to hear people’s voices made them feel significantly closer to the stranger and turned out not to be more awkward than text-chatting.
Texting all day? You’ll feel happier if you pick up the phone and chat.|Jill Suttie|November 6, 2020|Washington Post
At some unknown point, another manzanita sprouted, unrecognized and in a most awkward spot.
How passion, luck and sweat saved some of North America’s rarest plants|Susan Milius|November 5, 2020|Science News

Cody won Head of Household over Enzo and Nicole, meaning he could decide whom to take to the final two — a situation made more awkward by the fact that he had promised both of them he would remain loyal to the end.
How ‘Big Brother’ (barely) redeemed itself after one of the most boring seasons ever|Emily Yahr|October 29, 2020|Washington Post
It also contains some clunky passages of adultery, temptations of the flesh, and general sexual awkwardness.
Powerful Congressman Writes About ‘Fleshy Breasts’|Asawin Suebsaeng|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
In a romantic relationship, facing humiliation or awkwardness is a strong possibility.
Random Hook-Ups or Dry Spells: Why Millennials Flunk College Dating|Ellie Schaack|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Now for the complications and awkwardness, to say nothing of elbows and gossip and rivalries and all that other stuff.
A City Hall Affair to Remember|Lloyd Grove|October 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It is glorious in its stilted awkwardness, and should be cherished.
Rosie Returns to 'The View': A Bold, Intelligent, and Sometimes Boring Premiere|Kevin Fallon|September 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
With two Texans in the running as potential candidates, Sessions sought to diffuse any awkwardness.
Republicans Panicked After Eric Cantor Loss: ‘This Is Like Robespierre’|Ben Jacobs, Tim Mak|June 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
How could she readily become accustomed to such without displaying awkwardness.
The Homesteader|Oscar Micheaux
This arrangement saves that awkwardness attendant upon entering the room and taking the position before a large company.
The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness|Florence Hartley
Ethel, after the awkwardness was over, thought no more of the matter, but went on in full enjoyment f the feast.
The Daisy Chain|Charlotte Yonge
Massinger and Field accepted frankly the structural awkwardness of their plot as they had fashioned or found it.
The Fatal Dowry|Philip Massinger
Some of the congregation do the business gracefully; others get through it like the very grandfather of awkwardness.
Our Churches and Chapels|Atticus

British Dictionary definitions for awkward

awkward

/ (ˈɔːkwəd) /

adjective

lacking dexterity, proficiency, or skill; clumsy; ineptthe new recruits were awkward in their exercises

ungainly or inelegant in movements or posturedespite a great deal of practice she remained an awkward dancer

unwieldy; difficult to usean awkward implement

embarrassingan awkward moment

embarrassedhe felt awkward about leaving

difficult to deal with; requiring tactan awkward situation; an awkward customer

deliberately uncooperative or unhelpfulhe could help but he is being awkward

dangerous or difficultan awkward ascent of the ridge

obsolete perverse

Derived forms of awkward

awkwardly, adverbawkwardness, noun

Word Origin for awkward

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

awkward

OTHER WORDS FOR awkward

OPPOSITES FOR awkward

Origin of awkward

OTHER WORDS FROM awkward

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How to use awkward in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for awkward

Derived forms of awkward

Word Origin for awkward