GAWKISH Synonyms: 27 Similar and Opposite Words

gawkish

adjective

ˈgȯ-kish

Definition of gawkish

as in awkward

having or showing an inability to move in a graceful manner the kind of gawkish girl who trips while receiving her high school diploma

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for gawkish

Adjective

Experts note that old brand safety rules are being recalibrated; the key is for brands to align authentically with the show's energy without appearing awkward.

— Toni Fitzgerald, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026
Suki, a vocal Black woman with an at times vulgar persona, whereas Althoff, a white woman, gained a reputation as an awkward, seemingly timid interviewer on her The Really Good Podcast.

— Meagan Jordan, VIBE.com, 10 July 2026

Definition of awkward

Adjective

But more broadly, as streaming became the dominant way audiences consume entertainment, a shelf full of stuff started to look like a relic of a clumsier time that most folks were happy to forget.

— Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 10 July 2026
The decision last fall followed clumsy discussion by Kennedy’s dubiously qualified advisors, who make up the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

— Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 10 July 2026

Definition of clumsy

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.

Browse Nearby Words

gawking

gawkish

gawkishness

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“Gawkish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gawkish. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of gawkish

adjective

Example Sentences

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