1
as in uncomfortable
lacking social grace and assurance
preteens feeling awkward at their first formal dance
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in clumsy
showing or marked by a lack of skill and tact (as in dealing with a situation)
her awkward handling of the seating arrangements at the wedding reception resulted in many hurt feelings
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in embarrassing
causing embarrassment
the awkward situation of having to listen as your host and hostess quarrel loudly in the next room
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in annoying
causing difficulty, discomfort, or annoyance
our surprise guests came at a very awkward time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in cumbersome
difficult to use or operate especially because of size, weight, or design
that manual can opener is awkward to hold
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in unsteady
having or showing an inability to move in a graceful manner
an awkward person who is always tripping over herself
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in unhandy
lacking or showing a lack of nimbleness in using one's hands
an awkward catch of a fly ball
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of awkward
Benny and Carmen meet at an awkward diversity orientation and become companions through their college experience.
—
Fred Topel, Deadline, 6 Apr. 2025
The awkward segment, designed to swap their Raw and SmackDown titles following the WWE Draft, exposed their real-life animosity.
—John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Apr. 2025
While Microsoft has mostly been on the ascent of late, with Nadella turning the company into a major power player in cloud computing and artificial intelligence, the birthday party lands at an awkward moment.
—Jordan Novet, CNBC, 4 Apr. 2025
The timing is awkward for Google, coming just days after Microsoft’s latest warning implying users would be safer switching from Chrome to Edge.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for awkward
Fred Topel, Deadline, 6 Apr. 2025
The awkward segment, designed to swap their Raw and SmackDown titles following the WWE Draft, exposed their real-life animosity.
—John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Apr. 2025
While Microsoft has mostly been on the ascent of late, with Nadella turning the company into a major power player in cloud computing and artificial intelligence, the birthday party lands at an awkward moment.
—Jordan Novet, CNBC, 4 Apr. 2025
The timing is awkward for Google, coming just days after Microsoft’s latest warning implying users would be safer switching from Chrome to Edge.
—Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for awkward
Recent Examples of Synonyms for awkward
Adjective
-
After an Emanuel Sharp 3 made Duke officially uncomfortable (67-64, 33 seconds left), Tugler was one of three Houston players to tip a regrettable inbounds pass from James, setting off a frenzied sequence.—
Brendan Quinn,
New York Times,
6 Apr. 2025
-
These disagreements kept things interesting, if sometimes uncomfortable, in the Colosseum at Caesars Palace.—
Matt Donnelly,
Variety,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Unlike clumsier species that struggle with obstacles, the black mamba leverages every surface with surgical precision, effectively turning the landscape into a series of launchpads.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
29 Mar. 2025
-
There’s also a touching subplot for the clumsy, muted Dopey (Andrew Barth Feldman), who’s regularly the butt of the other dwarfs’ jokes.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA TODAY,
21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Nine Republicans, including Luna, dealt Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) an embarrassing blow on Tuesday afternoon by voting against a rule vote to advance several pieces of legislation.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
2 Apr. 2025
-
As the marketing meeting for Howard's film finally begins, Maya put Matt on the spot to deliver the note, only for Howard to recall, in detail, Matt's embarrassing suggestion from the screening of A Beautiful Mind in front of everyone.—
Julia Moore,
People.com,
2 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Other non-native ephemerals, such as lesser celandine, are more annoying and more recent arrivals.—
Carl R. Gold,
Baltimore Sun,
30 Mar. 2025
-
If your garden consists entirely of fruit trees, however, then chickens could roam free and forage for the larvae of those bothersome fig beetles, which have become an increasingly annoying pest in recent years.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
29 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
As legal professionals gain increasing authority over AI deployment decisions, new internal stakeholders are introduced, making the organizational process of adopting AI systems more cumbersome.—
Nizan Geslevich Packin,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025
-
Like so many others, they are left with an impossible choice: involve the criminal justice system — which may be slow, cumbersome and invasive — or do nothing and hope the situation doesn’t escalate.—
Eric Gonzalez,
New York Daily News,
26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Mike Conroy, executive director at The Economic Co., said that has become common throughout the Bay Area in which rising costs and a more unsteady business environment have prompted development projects to switch gears.—
Devan Patel,
Mercury News,
28 Mar. 2025
-
Set during a tumultuous summer in Lima in 1992, Reinas chronicles the unsteady reunion between a father and his two daughters.—
Scott Roxborough,
The Hollywood Reporter,
22 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Inflation, perhaps stiffened by tariffs, and uncertainty over the future of the labor market have left consumers feeling uneasy.—
DeArbea Walker,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025
-
But the Armageddon-level stakes of unrest in the region should make anyone uneasy about mishaps.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
As horrible, unpleasant, miserable this work was, people had the most wonderful spirit.—
Ari Daniel,
Smithsonian Magazine,
3 Apr. 2025
-
Euphemisms are designed to obfuscate unpleasant truths.—
Zachariah Mampilly,
Foreign Affairs,
1 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Awkward.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/awkward. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share