awkward

adjective

awk·​ward ˈȯ-kwərd How to pronounce awkward (audio)
Synonyms of awkwardnext
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

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus
Choose the Right Synonym for awkward

awkward, clumsy, maladroit, inept, gauche mean not marked by ease (as of performance, movement, or social conduct).

awkward is widely applicable and may suggest unhandiness, inconvenience, lack of muscular control, embarrassment, or lack of tact.

periods of awkward silence

clumsy implies stiffness and heaviness and so may connote inflexibility, unwieldiness, or lack of ordinary skill.

a clumsy mechanic

maladroit suggests a tendency to create awkward situations.

a maladroit politician

inept often implies complete failure or inadequacy.

a hopelessly inept defense attorney

gauche implies the effects of shyness, inexperience, or ill breeding.

felt gauche and unsophisticated at formal parties

Examples of awkward in a Sentence

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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Historically an awkward public speaker, Johnson nevertheless saw the invitation as an opportunity to promote his plan for a voting rights bill. — Michael Peregrine, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2025 Things only get less interesting as that love triangles widens into an awkward kind of square, the chiaroscuro splendor of Soderbergh’s cinematography laboring to compensate for a murder-mystery that’s as scattered and impenetrable as Berlin itself. — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 14 Mar. 2025 After making her Fire Country debut last season in an awkward family reunion with her step-sister Sharon Leone (Diane Farr), Mickey returns in an upcoming episode of the CBS drama to tee up her upcoming spinoff, Sheriff Country. — Alamin Yohannes, EW.com, 14 Mar. 2025 Earlier this week, Richards and Umansky had an emotional, yet awkward chat on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills about the July 2024 photos of him kissing another woman. — Jack Irvin, People.com, 14 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for awkward

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of awkward was in 1530

Browse Nearby Words

awk
awkward
awkward age
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Awkward.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/awkward. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

awkward

adjective
awk·​ward ˈȯ-kwərd How to pronounce awkward (audio)
1
: lacking skill and flexibility (as in the use of the hands)
2
: not graceful : clumsy
3
: causing embarrassment
an awkward situation
4
: difficult to use or handle
an awkward tool
awkwardly adverb
awkwardness noun

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