awkward
adjective
awk·ward ˈȯ-kwərd 
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
- clumsy
- gauche
- graceless
- inelegant
- rough-hewn
- rustic
- rustical
- stiff
- stilted
- uncomfortable
- uneasy
- ungraceful
- wooden
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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. He had large feet and his walk was awkward and ungainly. The story contained some awkward writing. She is an awkward writer. The machine is very awkward to operate. I often find myself in awkward situations. He was put in the awkward position of having to write the memo. There was an awkward pause in the conversation. He feels awkward with strangers. See More
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. He had large feet and his walk was awkward and ungainly. The story contained some awkward writing. She is an awkward writer. The machine is very awkward to operate. I often find myself in awkward situations. He was put in the awkward position of having to write the memo. There was an awkward pause in the conversation. He feels awkward with strangers. See More Recent Examples on the Web Morgen also includes archival clips of Bowie appearing on talk shows both in the States and the U.K., and, in his shy, awkward way, explaining his ideas about gender fluidity, long before there was an accepted term for it. Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 16 Sep. 2022 This kind of series used to have to rely on awkward reenactments. Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 16 Sep. 2022 Adapted from an Alice Hoffman novel of the same name, reviewers have called it out for awkward tonal shifts, but as anyone who has actually read an Alice Hoffman book already knows that's a feature, not a bug. Debby Wolfinsohn, EW.com, 15 Sep. 2022 That left him in the awkward position on Wednesday. Josh Boak And Zeke Miller, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2022 And the teaming up of the former vice president and Bolduc may have potentially led to some awkward conversation. Paul Steinhauser, Fox News, 15 Sep. 2022 And Succession took home Best Drama ending the show with this awkward jab at another succession that took place across the pond. Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 14 Sep. 2022 The move by Graham, on a day when Republicans had hoped to focus on poor inflation numbers, put some of his colleagues in a awkward political position. Gabe Ferris, ABC News, 13 Sep. 2022 With someone guiding the analysis, there’s less potential for awkward silences. Emma Sarappo, The Atlantic, 13 Sep. 2022 See More
Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 16 Sep. 2022 This kind of series used to have to rely on awkward reenactments. Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 16 Sep. 2022 Adapted from an Alice Hoffman novel of the same name, reviewers have called it out for awkward tonal shifts, but as anyone who has actually read an Alice Hoffman book already knows that's a feature, not a bug. Debby Wolfinsohn, EW.com, 15 Sep. 2022 That left him in the awkward position on Wednesday. Josh Boak And Zeke Miller, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2022 And the teaming up of the former vice president and Bolduc may have potentially led to some awkward conversation. Paul Steinhauser, Fox News, 15 Sep. 2022 And Succession took home Best Drama ending the show with this awkward jab at another succession that took place across the pond. Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 14 Sep. 2022 The move by Graham, on a day when Republicans had hoped to focus on poor inflation numbers, put some of his colleagues in a awkward political position. Gabe Ferris, ABC News, 13 Sep. 2022 With someone guiding the analysis, there’s less potential for awkward silences. Emma Sarappo, The Atlantic, 13 Sep. 2022 See More 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
Kids Definition
awkward
adjective
awk·ward ˈȯ-kwərd
1
: not graceful : clumsy
an awkward dancer
2
: likely to embarrass
an awkward question
3
: difficult to use or handle
awkward tools
awkward
adjective
1
as in uncomfortable
lacking social grace and assurance preteens feeling awkward at their first formal dance Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- uncomfortable
- clumsy
- uneasy
- embarrassed
- ungraceful
- inelegant
- gauche
- stilted
- stiff
- nervous
- timid
- upset
- wooden
- rustic
- graceless
- flustered
- disturbed
- ungainly
- gawky
- unsettled
- angular
- meek
- agitated
- rustical
- uncouth
- clownish
- rough-hewn
- boorish
- discomforted
- discomfited
- diffident
- disconcerted
- bothered
- lubberly
- distressed
- modest
- mortified
- jumpy
- abashed
- insecure
- nonplussed
- perturbed
- discomposed
- unassertive
- unhinged
- unassuming
- jittery
- self-conscious
- rattled
- disquieted
- chagrined
- dismayed
- fazed
- discountenanced
- unpretentious
- nonplused
- self-doubting
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- graceful
- suave
- urbane
- cool
- confident
- serene
- undisturbed
- calm
- composed
- secure
- unperturbed
- collected
- tranquil
- placid
- poised
- assured
- self-assured
- self-possessed
- self-confident
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
- clumsy
- inexperienced
- sloppy
- incompetent
- careless
- botched
- fumbled
- bungling
- maladroit
- inept
- inefficient
- inexpert
- unprofessional
- amateurish
- unpolished
- ineffectual
- tactless
- unskilled
- crude
- amateur
- tacky
- undiplomatic
- unskillful
- ineffective
- ineffectual
- green
- misguided
- misdirected
- ill-advised
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- facile
- adroit
- clever
- deft
- professional
- able
- capable
- easy
- competent
- adept
- skillful
- dexterous
- dextrous
- polished
- skilled
- talented
- smooth
- diplomatic
- proficient
- expert
- masterful
- accomplished
- effortless
- gracious
- tactful
- consummate
- masterly
- crackerjack
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
- embarrassing
- uncomfortable
- unpleasant
- difficult
- confusing
- disconcerting
- humiliating
- disturbing
- discomfiting
- troublesome
- unwieldy
- impossible
- flustering
- inconvenient
- unsettling
- disagreeable
- intolerable
- mortifying
- demeaning
- humbling
- degrading
- debasing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- convenient
- comfortable
- agreeable
- pleasing
4
as in annoying
causing difficulty, discomfort, or annoyance our surprise guests came at a very awkward time Synonyms & Similar Words
- annoying
- frustrating
- inconvenient
- irritating
- troublesome
- disturbing
- bothersome
- irksome
- discommoding
- incommoding
- disobliging
- burdensome
- exasperating
- maddening
- onerous
- vexing
- vexatious
- nagging
- nettlesome
- galling
- riling
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- convenient
- acceptable
- tolerable
- ultraconvenient
- bearable
- good
- desirable
- advantageous
- helpful
- endurable
- sufferable
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
- clumsy
- cumbersome
- unwieldy
- ungainly
- clunky
- unhandy
- ponderous
- cumbrous
- impractical
- heavy
- cranky
- unmanageable
- uncontrollable
- bunglesome
- massive
- bulky
- impracticable
- dinosauric
- hulking
- elephantine
- dinosaurian
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- practical
- useful
- handy
- functional
- practicable
- serviceable
6
as in ungainly
having or showing an inability to move in a graceful manner an awkward person who is always tripping over herself Synonyms & Similar Words
- clumsy
- ungainly
- gawky
- unsteady
- uncoordinated
- shuffling
- klutzy
- graceless
- wobbly
- gawkish
- lumbering
- shambling
- lumpish
- lubberly
- wabbly
- galumphing
- larruping
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- graceful
- coordinated
- nimble
- light
- lithe
- lissom
- lissome
- light-footed
- sure-footed
- light-foot
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
- clumsy
- unhandy
- graceless
- maladroit
- all thumbs
- ham-fisted
- butterfingered
- uncoordinated
- ham-handed
- handless
- cack-handed
- heavy-handed
- gauche
- left-handed
- unskilled
- inept
- bungling
- bunglesome
- unskillful
- inexpert
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- handy
- dextrous
- dexterous
- deft
- skillful
- skilled
- expert
- sure-handed
- coordinated
- masterly
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of awkward are clumsy, gauche, inept, and maladroit. While all these words 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
While the synonyms clumsy and awkward are close in meaning, clumsy implies stiffness and heaviness and so may connote inflexibility, unwieldiness, or lack of ordinary skill.
a clumsy mechanic
In some situations, the words gauche and awkward are roughly equivalent. However, gauche implies the effects of shyness, inexperience, or ill breeding.
felt gauche and unsophisticated at formal parties
The words inept and awkward are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, inept often implies complete failure or inadequacy.
a hopelessly inept defense attorney
The meanings of maladroit and awkward largely overlap; however, maladroit suggests a tendency to create awkward situations.
a maladroit politician