awkwardly

adverb

Definition of awkwardlynext
1
as in clumsily

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Dissimilar Words
2
as in ungracefully

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Dissimilar Words

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 awkwardly It also was awkwardly attached to a federal voter ID requirement, which went over like a lead balloon on the California ballot Tuesday. — Larry Wilson, Daily News, 7 Nov. 2026 As Solomon and Esther wander in and out, the brothers awkwardly reunite then argue. — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 7 Nov. 2026 Before the final media timeout, Allen landed awkwardly, grabbed his right ankle and needed help off the floor. — ABC News, 6 Nov. 2026 But for the time being Fox and Trump awkwardly share a Republican base. — Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2026 His wife, Galina, a noble beauty, excels at the role of the plumed bird in a cage and yet suffers for it, fumbling around awkwardly for an escape. — Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026 Perry was best known for his role on Friends playing the acerbic and awkwardly charming Chandler Bing, a character that permanently shot him into the public eye. — Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 27 Oct. 2026 Thanks to the single-floor layout, both are easy to access without awkwardly climbing ladders and both also offer ample headroom to stand upright. — New Atlas, 23 Oct. 2026 Canada banged awkwardly into Williams’ knee on a box out during her late free throws and the Valkyries star was being cared for by an athletic trainer on the bench in the waning moments. — Janie McCauley, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for awkwardly
  1. clumsily
  2. irrelevantly
  3. ineptly
  4. unfortunately
  5. gracelessly
Adverb
  • All the while, the question of whether they’re related by blood lurks in the background, kicked slowly down the road until the finale clumsily throws it into focus.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 23 Sep. 2026
  • What detracts from the film is the clumsily emphatic foreshadowing of a dramatic plot turn, which is pretty much spelled out by an alarm company technician who sells Miguel on the wisdom of upgrading to a next-level home security system.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of clumsily
Adverb
  • Grandma, irrelevantly but convincingly, spoke of wars, blizzards and trekking barefoot to school.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 July 2026
Definition of irrelevantly
Adverb
  • The collapse of the Constitution’s balance of powers between three branches of government got us into an unneeded war conducted ineptly.
    — Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 15 Mar. 2026
  • Dancing the Poznan really ineptly, mind you, but dancing nonetheless.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 8 Sep. 2025
Definition of ineptly
Adverb
  • The Ada and Agnes household will soon be entertaining the president, who is unfortunately Grover Cleveland.
    — Alice Burton, Vulture, 2 Nov. 2026
  • And unfortunately, Jeremiah Smith and running back Bo Jackson can't do it all without a viable quarterback that oozes confidence.
    — Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of unfortunately
Adverb
  • Lines that are too close together reinforce the author’s supremacy, gracelessly.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026
  • This kind of beauty has nothing to do with perfection, which is distributed so arbitrarily and approximated so gracelessly.
    — Jia Tolentino, New Yorker, 11 July 2026
Definition of gracelessly

Browse Nearby Words

awkward
awkwardly
awkwardness
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Cite this Entry

“Awkwardly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/awkwardly. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

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