as in clumsy
having or showing an inability to move in a graceful manner
the stiff, gawky gait of a newborn colt
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Recent Examples of gawky
Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2025
The one big cable that neither of the solutions could easily eliminate, however, is the big, gawky PCI Express power cable that runs in and out of a graphics card, which to an extent spoils the effect.
—John Burek, PC Magazine, 20 May 2025
Crumb’s gawky, eccentric persona was first revealed to the wider public in a 1994 documentary made by his friend Terry Zwigoff, which portrays the cartoonist with all of his incongruities.
—Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 14 Apr. 2025
Take it from a film critic: Even gawky beta nerds get smothered by their own internalized masculinity.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gawky
Noun
Hiccup, played this time with game and gawky charm by Mason Thames, has been raised to think the only solution to violence is more violence.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2025
The one big cable that neither of the solutions could easily eliminate, however, is the big, gawky PCI Express power cable that runs in and out of a graphics card, which to an extent spoils the effect.
—John Burek, PC Magazine, 20 May 2025
Crumb’s gawky, eccentric persona was first revealed to the wider public in a 1994 documentary made by his friend Terry Zwigoff, which portrays the cartoonist with all of his incongruities.
—Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 14 Apr. 2025
Take it from a film critic: Even gawky beta nerds get smothered by their own internalized masculinity.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gawky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gawky
Adjective
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Maggie is a snoop—and a clumsy one.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
3 Oct. 2025
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But the character’s state of servitude is largely hidden in clumsy blocking.—
Frank Rizzo,
Variety,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
There’s at least one major shoe that could drop — why devote an entire episode to the Gemstone origin story if that gold Bible isn’t going to pay off somehow? — but The Righteous Gemstones loves these grotesque, dysfunctional louts.—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
28 Apr. 2025
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That’s the memorable insult that James Kennedy (the DJ of the group) hurled at Tom Sandoval (the resident lout) last season after Sandoval — who had a girlfriend — became romantically involved with Kennedy’s ex-girlfriend.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2024
Adjective
-
In July, a Coldplay concert jumbotron captured an awkward moment after panning to an embracing couple, who promptly unlocked arms and tried to dodge the camera.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
28 Sep. 2025
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According to Fightful, Holland had an awkward landing during his match.—
Matthew Couden,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The Irish independence-supporting Fenians, represented primarily by hotheaded oaf Paddy (Seamus O’Hara) and his more strategically minded sister Ellen (Niamh McCormack), loathe the family’s conservative unionist policies.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Sep. 2025
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The pope, played by Samora la Perdida, is a mincing oaf who bickers with Galas about the value of translating Wagner.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Critics started using the ungainly term Apatowian to describe his imitators.—
Adrienne LaFrance,
The Atlantic,
15 Sep. 2025
-
An absolute charmer, the film is an affecting look at the human-avian bond, with all its mysteries, warmth and ungainly practicalities.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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My head slumps, my back arches, my pedal stroke becomes an uncoordinated bounce.—
Frederick Dreier,
Outside,
28 Sep. 2025
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This echoes remarks his envoy Steve Witkoff made after the latest round of talks collapsed, slamming Hamas as uncoordinated and not acting in good faith and saying the US would explore alternative options to secure hostage release and stabilize Gaza.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
25 Aug. 2025
Noun
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An inspiring 60-second spot from Pampers features an array of wee tykes, all being comforted or protected by the popular Procter & Gamble diaper.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
5 Sep. 2025
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James, who was first introduced to TV viewers as Family Matters tyke Richie Crawford, has forged an impressive career in daytime.—
Andy Swift,
TVLine,
11 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Carrie raves to Seema about her creative connection with Duncan, and during another writing session, Duncan helps Carrie with her faulty printer and gawks at her closet full of designer dresses and shoes.—
Dave Nemetz,
TVLine,
31 July 2025
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Here, the blurring is visual: Sometimes Leonard floats into the past looking like Gere, who wears the character without a shred of self-protection as the lens gawks at his raw skin.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Gawky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gawky. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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