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
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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
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Recent Examples of awkward
In the unofficial demo, the humanoid responds to voice commands slowly and takes awkward pauses.
—
Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2025
Ironically, these emails were leaked just a few days after both Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew were photographed with members of the royal family at the funeral of the Duchess of Kent, which puts the royal family in a very awkward position.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 26 Sep. 2025
Threading that narrative in there, and getting all the clumsy beats and the awkward beats, felt like a continuation of the narrative.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2025
And for all the talk from the tribe about how much everybody loved each other, there were no hugs or goodbyes when Nicole’s torch was snuffed, just awkward silence — from both her and everybody else.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for awkward
Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2025
Ironically, these emails were leaked just a few days after both Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew were photographed with members of the royal family at the funeral of the Duchess of Kent, which puts the royal family in a very awkward position.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 26 Sep. 2025
Threading that narrative in there, and getting all the clumsy beats and the awkward beats, felt like a continuation of the narrative.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2025
And for all the talk from the tribe about how much everybody loved each other, there were no hugs or goodbyes when Nicole’s torch was snuffed, just awkward silence — from both her and everybody else.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for awkward
Recent Examples of Synonyms for awkward
Adjective
-
Licensed Clinical Social Worker Anat Joseph agreed, noting that gestures like sending scented clothing blur platonic boundaries and can understandably make a partner uncomfortable.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Sep. 2025
-
However, forecasters note that the relative humidity at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar will be an uncomfortable 85 percent Saturday and 82 percent Sunday.—
Gary Robbins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Threading that narrative in there, and getting all the clumsy beats and the awkward beats, felt like a continuation of the narrative.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Well accustomed to the bumps and bruises that come with playing defense at a high level, Thomas can look back with some humor at one of the ankle injuries, which was due to a clumsy play.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Some of the secrets in Stein’s archive are, like the contents of a laundry hamper, both poignantly human and embarrassing.—
Judith Thurman,
New Yorker,
29 Sep. 2025
-
When Mitchell was done facing the music, with several cameras in his face following one of the most embarrassing plays of his career, the rest of his teammates refused to place the loss solely on him.—
James Boyd,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Having to spend your day punching up a crappy slide deck your colleague’s chatbot spit out is annoying, to be sure.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
26 Sep. 2025
-
His meme humor and utter dedication to that god-awful nickname should be annoying.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
From scrunchies that secretly double as drink covers to zipper clips that stop pickpockets from opening your backpack, these viral finds prove that travel safety doesn’t have to be cumbersome or expensive.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Big, cumbersome, and greasy, baking sheets can be a pain to clean and dry off.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
21 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
House of Guinness tends to be wise about the ways both business and family are built over an unsteady and ever-changing series of negotiations for power and status.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
25 Sep. 2025
-
What the map did not show was that few hikers attempt this route due to its exposure and the extra time, water, and stamina required of a lengthy and strenuous Class II scramble up and down a trio of ever-taller unnamed 13,000-foot mountains of loose talus and unsteady granite blocks.—
Ted Katauskas,
Outside,
23 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
All that should have spelled relief to H-1B workers and their corporate sponsors, but Xiao Wang, chief executive of the immigration services firm Boundless Immigration, said the lack of detail left many unanswered questions – and his clients uneasy.—
Dian Zhang,
USA Today,
24 Sep. 2025
-
If uneasy, history may provide equal insights with economics.—
Edward Lotterman,
Twin Cities,
21 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
But their pitchers exploited enough batters on an inexperienced team that is now two losses from 100 for the season, and the Padres held on for a 3-2 victory over the White Sox on Sunday.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Sep. 2025
-
Founders are often too eager to scale, or too inexperienced to evaluate talent, and the financial hit isn’t felt immediately.—
Anuradha Gupta,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Awkward.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/awkward. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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