1
as in clumsily
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2
as in ungracefully
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Recent Examples of awkwardly
The sneckdown is also what people awkwardly have to step through as a result.
—
Naaman Zhou, New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2026
Emma spotted his brother first, then sprinted at him, arms outstretched, into a waist-high bear hug that Yoneifer – now a mature 9 – returned awkwardly, half-smiling.
—Maeva Bambuck, CNN Money, 1 Feb. 2026
Then, Dru Smith landed awkwardly in that same gap and sprained a ligament in his right knee, costing him the rest of his season.
—Joe Vardon, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
No one should have to sit on the floor or stand awkwardly.
—Asia London Palomba, The Spruce, 30 Jan. 2026
Surreally stylized flourishes that are both awkwardly realized and inorganic to the prevailing mood and style?
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 27 Jan. 2026
But to enforce that claim, Duke had to awkwardly sue a student who sought to transfer, which is a matter of enrollment and by itself can’t be legally blocked.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 27 Jan. 2026
While some degree of temporary stiffness is normal, if too much skin is removed during surgery or if the orbicularis muscle is aggressively manipulated, the mouth may move awkwardly and the smile can be restricted for weeks to months or even permanently.
—Jolene Edgar, Allure, 27 Jan. 2026
In context of all the hilariously bitchy and awkwardly deferential comments Mustaine has made about Metallica in recent years, this choice of a bonus track initially struck me as a desperate troll.
—Eli Enis, Pitchfork, 26 Jan. 2026
Naaman Zhou, New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2026
Emma spotted his brother first, then sprinted at him, arms outstretched, into a waist-high bear hug that Yoneifer – now a mature 9 – returned awkwardly, half-smiling.
—Maeva Bambuck, CNN Money, 1 Feb. 2026
Then, Dru Smith landed awkwardly in that same gap and sprained a ligament in his right knee, costing him the rest of his season.
—Joe Vardon, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
No one should have to sit on the floor or stand awkwardly.
—Asia London Palomba, The Spruce, 30 Jan. 2026
Surreally stylized flourishes that are both awkwardly realized and inorganic to the prevailing mood and style?
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 27 Jan. 2026
But to enforce that claim, Duke had to awkwardly sue a student who sought to transfer, which is a matter of enrollment and by itself can’t be legally blocked.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 27 Jan. 2026
While some degree of temporary stiffness is normal, if too much skin is removed during surgery or if the orbicularis muscle is aggressively manipulated, the mouth may move awkwardly and the smile can be restricted for weeks to months or even permanently.
—Jolene Edgar, Allure, 27 Jan. 2026
In context of all the hilariously bitchy and awkwardly deferential comments Mustaine has made about Metallica in recent years, this choice of a bonus track initially struck me as a desperate troll.
—Eli Enis, Pitchfork, 26 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for awkwardly
Adverb
-
Straight and gay pornography was aired, albeit clumsily censored by the network.—
Vikram Murthi,
IndieWire,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Then a new entity clumsily named Netflix intruded with its quantum equation.—
Peter Bart,
Deadline,
18 Dec. 2025
Adverb
-
Dancing the Poznan really ineptly, mind you, but dancing nonetheless.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Somehow this ineptly plotted affair lured Keke Palmer into its lair and her comedy chops all but gets handcuffed by an illogical, unfunny screenplay.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
15 Aug. 2025
Adverb
-
And it’s turned a positive, unfortunately, into a potential negative.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Sweating it out within four wooden walls is a weekly winter ritual for Nordic folks, but unfortunately for us heat-seekers on the other side of the world, the nearest sauna is often miles away, never in the next room or even on the same city block.—
Olivia Young,
Travel + Leisure,
1 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Awkwardly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/awkwardly. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.
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