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
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Recent Examples of awkward
In the awkward silence, Natalie and Francie look at each other.
—
Jake Kring-Schreifels, Time, 26 June 2025
Those couple of awkward hours will soon fade; he has been dealt his hand, and will have to play it.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 26 June 2025
Regional flashpoints have now put China in an awkward position.
—Wesley Alexander Hill, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
At times awkward, but mostly gorgeous, catchy and sincere.
—Darian Sahanaja, Variety, 15 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for awkward
Jake Kring-Schreifels, Time, 26 June 2025
Those couple of awkward hours will soon fade; he has been dealt his hand, and will have to play it.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 26 June 2025
Regional flashpoints have now put China in an awkward position.
—Wesley Alexander Hill, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
At times awkward, but mostly gorgeous, catchy and sincere.
—Darian Sahanaja, Variety, 15 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for awkward
Recent Examples of Synonyms for awkward
Adjective
-
And also burst into laughter – uncomfortable laughter.—
Katcy Stephan,
Variety,
29 June 2025
-
The uncomfortable truth is that economics, not ethics, will be the final arbiter of the transition's speed, even if ethics gets to set the goal.—
Alexander Puutio,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
Adjective
-
At times, Alcaraz was almost as clumsy as Federer in his last hurrah here against Hubert Hurkacz in 2021.—
Tim Ellis,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
-
But things get weighed down by a clumsy body-swapping plot and a pairing between Joe and 22 that never fully pays off.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
26 June 2025
Adjective
-
Top Model tried to give me an embarrassing new look.—
Sarah Hartshorne,
Vulture,
7 July 2025
-
Stefanos Tsitsipas: Adidas London Originals Stefanos Tsitsipas suffered an embarrassing early exit, losing in the first round to.—
Merlisa Lawrence Corbett,
Forbes.com,
6 July 2025
Adjective
-
Figuring out how to reply to an annoying co-worker on Slack?—
Rachel Wells,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
-
In other words, these annoying tasks will actually start to feel good.—
Meg Walters,
Glamour,
28 June 2025
Adjective
-
Big, cumbersome, and greasy, baking sheets can be a pain to clean and dry off.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
30 June 2025
-
The actions come as deepfakes have become increasingly common, affecting celebrities such as pop star Taylor Swift and even Pope Francis as well as many less famous people, and also grown more cumbersome to identify as AI-generated.—
Solcyré Burga,
Time,
27 June 2025
Adjective
-
As the uncertainty wears on, business leaders face an unsteady economic future, meaning Indiana could see less hiring and less investment in the local economy, Hummels said.—
Alysa Guffey,
IndyStar,
2 July 2025
-
With Showtime launched in 2023 after a couple of unsteady years as a bundle of the two discrete services — the stand-alone streamer Paramount+ (f.k.a.—
Eric Vilas-Boas,
Vulture,
24 June 2025
Adjective
-
Edan Lui of Hong Kong boy band Mirror will also make his Korean drama debut in the new season, joining the cast in a role that pairs him in an uneasy alliance with Kim Do-gi.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
25 June 2025
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Repeatedly returning to themes of globalization and alienation, the 55-year-old director has meticulously chronicled his country’s uneasy plunge into the 21st century as rampant industrialization risks deadening those left behind.—
Tim Grierson,
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2025
Adjective
-
Some of these vitamins have quality issues, like a fishy or unpleasant taste.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
25 June 2025
-
Diana, for example, when anything unpleasant was said in her presence, would slowly blink her eyes in an incredible act of denial.—
Rosemary Counter,
Time,
25 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Awkward.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/awkward. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.
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