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
On the bright side, Mark gets out of there so quickly Carrie doesn’t have to have an awkward conversation with him about not wanting to date.
—
Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 15 Aug. 2025
In it, Carrie spends an awkward weekend with Aidan and his family in Virginia after spontaneously extending what otherwise would have been a day-trip; one scene shows Carrie rustling from sleep fully clothed and totally alone in his bed on her first morning there.
—Nicola Dall'asen, Allure, 15 Aug. 2025
Modern Naval planners forget that, for small ships, the transit to the World War II battle line was usually an awkward and often grinding mix of travel.
—Craig Hooper, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Critics found the curved lap bar to be awkward and the journey seemed too short.
—Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for awkward
Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 15 Aug. 2025
In it, Carrie spends an awkward weekend with Aidan and his family in Virginia after spontaneously extending what otherwise would have been a day-trip; one scene shows Carrie rustling from sleep fully clothed and totally alone in his bed on her first morning there.
—Nicola Dall'asen, Allure, 15 Aug. 2025
Modern Naval planners forget that, for small ships, the transit to the World War II battle line was usually an awkward and often grinding mix of travel.
—Craig Hooper, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Critics found the curved lap bar to be awkward and the journey seemed too short.
—Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for awkward
Recent Examples of Synonyms for awkward
Adjective
-
Less Strain: Reaching over your child’s car seat can be uncomfortable and awkward.—
Laura Lu,
Parents,
16 Aug. 2025
-
For some, the action echoes uncomfortable historical chapters when politicians used language to paint predominantly Black cities with racist narratives to shape public opinion and justify police action.—
John Seewer,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
This is a huge bonus for a clumsy gal like myself, who often trips over air.—
Jacqueline Tempera,
People.com,
14 Aug. 2025
-
The scale of the problem became terrifyingly clear during the Covid-19 pandemic, as the Japanese government struggled to respond to a nationwide crisis with clumsy digital tools.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
9 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
This puts us at risk for more than regulatory trouble or embarrassing model errors.—
Alexander Puutio,
Forbes.com,
12 Aug. 2025
-
Heat is delivered by chiles, hot sauce, red chili flakes or simply an embarrassing amount of freshly ground black pepper.—
Lynda Balslev,
Mercury News,
6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
For a good portion of the audience, Metal Gear Solid Delta will hit all the right notes by being a nice jaunt down memory lane to a time when these ideas and systems were innovative rather than annoying.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
22 Aug. 2025
-
The sheer amount of toilet humor — there’s a lot of mucus, snot, and jokes about people drinking piss stuffed into one film — often proves more annoying than fun.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Over time, these staffs have ballooned in size, making coordination cumbersome.—
Benjamin Jensen,
The Conversation,
18 Aug. 2025
-
Some trays are completely lacking in handles, which can be cumbersome to lift and carry.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
But the existing options have continued to be unsteady.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
11 Aug. 2025
-
So when things feel unsteady, our strategy is grounded in what has always mattered most: protecting and supporting our team.—
Rebecca Brooks,
Forbes.com,
21 May 2025
Adjective
-
The United States and China have settled into a steady state of pragmatic, if uneasy, détente.—
Phil Mattingly,
CNN Money,
13 Aug. 2025
-
Reading Zeller’s book, I was reminded that there is a kind of uneasy fellowship in this condition—a vast, involuntary community of people mapping out their lives between attacks, haunted by uncertainty but sustained in part by accounts like his.—
Jerome Groopman,
New Yorker,
11 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Once again, America confronts the unpleasant truth that the Constitution does not expressly guarantee a right to vote — and neither will the Supreme Court.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
12 Aug. 2025
-
The past year has been an unpleasant one for the value approach.—
John Dorfman,
Forbes.com,
11 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Awkward.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/awkward. Accessed 26 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share