awkward

adjective

ˈȯ-kwərd How to pronounce awkward (audio)
Definition of awkwardnext
1
as in uncomfortable
lacking social grace and assurance preteens feeling awkward at their first formal dance

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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

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3
as in embarrassing
causing embarrassment the awkward situation of having to listen as your host and hostess quarrel loudly in the next room

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4
as in annoying
causing difficulty, discomfort, or annoyance our surprise guests came at a very awkward time

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5
as in cumbersome
difficult to use or operate especially because of size, weight, or design that manual can opener is awkward to hold

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6
as in unsteady
having or showing an inability to move in a graceful manner an awkward person who is always tripping over herself

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7
as in unhandy
lacking or showing a lack of nimbleness in using one's hands an awkward catch of a fly ball

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective awkward contrast with its synonyms?

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

In what contexts can clumsy take the place of awkward?

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

When would gauche be a good substitute for awkward?

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

When might inept be a better fit than awkward?

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

When could maladroit be used to replace awkward?

The meanings of maladroit and awkward largely overlap; however, maladroit suggests a tendency to create awkward situations.

a maladroit politician

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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for awkward
  1. uncomfortable
  2. clumsy
  3. embarrassing
  4. annoying
  5. cumbersome
  6. unsteady
  7. uneasy
  8. unpleasant
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
Definition of uncomfortable
Adjective
  • Raw also advertised Bayley challenging Lyra Valkyria for the WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship, Penta vs. Dominik Mysterio and the world’s most clumsy GM Adam Pearce making his next fumble of the worst storyline going this WrestleMania season between Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair and Iyo Sky.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
  • This is why the Trump administration’s DOGE exercise — while clumsy at times — is such an important endeavor despite Democratic efforts to discredit it.
    — Editorial, Boston Herald, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of clumsy
Adjective
  • 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
  • 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
Definition of embarrassing
Adjective
  • Few things are as annoying as a vacuum cleaner that leaves a strip of dust by the baseboards and in the corners.
    — Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Ding-dong ditched … well into adulthood—one person rang a neighbor's doorbell repeatedly just to be annoying.
    — Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of annoying
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
Definition of cumbersome
Adjective
  • Over the years the two musicians would meet, notably once in 1981 for a special benefit concert in Central Park, but notoriously had an unsteady relationship.
    — Meredith Wilshere, People.com, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Now Raising Alarm in the US Meanwhile, business sentiment remains unsteady, with the National Federation of Independent Business' (NFIB) Uncertainty Index rising 4 points to 104 in February—its second-highest reading since the index's inception in 1973.
    — Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025
Definition of unsteady
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
Definition of uneasy
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
Definition of unpleasant

Browse Nearby Words

awing
awkward
awkwardly
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Cite this Entry

“Awkward.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/awkward. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

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