Awkward

//ˈɔːkwəd// adj, noun

adj, noun ·Common ·High school level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    Someone or something that is awkward.

    "Another important branch of deportment was to seat the awkwards stiffly on the extreme edge of a chair, fold the hands on the very precarious lap, droop the eyes in a pensive way."

Adjective
  1. 1
    Lacking dexterity in the use of the hands, or of instruments.

    "John was awkward at performing the trick. He'll have to practice to improve."

  2. 2
    Not easily managed or effected; embarrassing.

    "That was an extremely awkward moment. Everyone was watching."

  3. 3
    Lacking social skills, or uncomfortable with social interaction.

    "I'm very awkward at parties."

  4. 4
    Perverse; adverse; difficult to handle.

    "He's a right awkward chap."

Adjective
  1. 1
    socially uncomfortable; unsure and constrained in manner wordnet
  2. 2
    causing inconvenience wordnet
  3. 3
    hard to deal with; especially causing pain or embarrassment wordnet
  4. 4
    not elegant or graceful in expression wordnet
  5. 5
    lacking grace or skill in manner or movement or performance wordnet
Show 1 more definition
  1. 6
    difficult to handle or manage especially because of shape wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms
cumbersomeclumsyembarrassingill at easeinconvenientlabored

Example

More examples

"After an awkward pause, Bill took her by the hand and dragged her upstairs."

Etymology

From awk (“odd, clumsy”) + -ward. Compare Middle English aukeward (“in the wrong direction”).

Related phrases

awkward ageawkward squadawkward turtle

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.