1
as in clumsily
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2
as in ungracefully
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Recent Examples of awkwardly
There were also a lot of members of the press who made the journey to cover the anniversary season, which led to an abundance of articles, videos, podcasts, and pictures of contestants awkwardly holding up pieces of paper.
—
Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Feb. 2026
The scene was much more aggressive as written, but the actors found an awkwardly flirtatious dynamic on the set that felt true to their characters.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 19 Feb. 2026
In Sunday’s qualifiers, Finland’s Elias Lajunen had to be carried away on a stretcher and taken to the hospital after crashing awkwardly at the end of his first run.
—Reuters, NBC news, 17 Feb. 2026
Amanda’s mother seems to activate when given the chance to paint at a nursing home, an aseptic and terrible place for which everyone in the family seems to be awkwardly auditioning.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 17 Feb. 2026
Warren stepped on the ball with her left leg and fell awkwardly on her right, tearing her ACL and meniscus.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 Feb. 2026
Interior designer Alina Mehrle notes that beds pushed against the wall or floating awkwardly impact the flow.
—Melissa Epifano, The Spruce, 14 Feb. 2026
Michigan State trailed 24-14 when Spartans center Carson Cooper landed awkwardly on a drive attempt and briefly left the game.
—ABC News, 13 Feb. 2026
But most team merchandise is still designed for men and then awkwardly resized for women.
—Patrick Iversen, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Feb. 2026
The scene was much more aggressive as written, but the actors found an awkwardly flirtatious dynamic on the set that felt true to their characters.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 19 Feb. 2026
In Sunday’s qualifiers, Finland’s Elias Lajunen had to be carried away on a stretcher and taken to the hospital after crashing awkwardly at the end of his first run.
—Reuters, NBC news, 17 Feb. 2026
Amanda’s mother seems to activate when given the chance to paint at a nursing home, an aseptic and terrible place for which everyone in the family seems to be awkwardly auditioning.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 17 Feb. 2026
Warren stepped on the ball with her left leg and fell awkwardly on her right, tearing her ACL and meniscus.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 Feb. 2026
Interior designer Alina Mehrle notes that beds pushed against the wall or floating awkwardly impact the flow.
—Melissa Epifano, The Spruce, 14 Feb. 2026
Michigan State trailed 24-14 when Spartans center Carson Cooper landed awkwardly on a drive attempt and briefly left the game.
—ABC News, 13 Feb. 2026
But most team merchandise is still designed for men and then awkwardly resized for women.
—Patrick Iversen, New York Times, 13 Feb. 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
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Dancing the Poznan really ineptly, mind you, but dancing nonetheless.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
8 Sep. 2025
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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
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Technology isn’t just a linchpin of the economy; the immense personal wealth of its creators has — perhaps unfortunately — become a crucial source of revenue for the state.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
21 Feb. 2026
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And unfortunately, Charles I was executed two years later, in January 1649.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
21 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Awkwardly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/awkwardly. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
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