as in uncomfortable
lacking social grace and assurance
an eminent scientist who was wooden in front of television cameras
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of wooden
The apple box detail — a small wooden platform used on film sets to adjust actors’ heights — reveals just how physically choreographed these scenes were on top of the emotional discomfort.
—
Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 20 Feb. 2026
Add some textured shelf liner to wooden or wire shelves to help hold linens in place.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 20 Feb. 2026
Hog wire and wooden fences with gaps up to four inches wide can both accommodate this style.
—Shagun Khare, Martha Stewart, 20 Feb. 2026
The black-and-white picture shows 28 men of Japanese descent, American citizens, lined up on wooden stairs leading to a mess hall at Tule Lake, one of 10 internment camps in the western United States during World War II.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wooden
Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 20 Feb. 2026
Add some textured shelf liner to wooden or wire shelves to help hold linens in place.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 20 Feb. 2026
Hog wire and wooden fences with gaps up to four inches wide can both accommodate this style.
—Shagun Khare, Martha Stewart, 20 Feb. 2026
The black-and-white picture shows 28 men of Japanese descent, American citizens, lined up on wooden stairs leading to a mess hall at Tule Lake, one of 10 internment camps in the western United States during World War II.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wooden
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wooden
Adjective
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Both works, critics say, display uncomfortable stereotypes that have been used to marginalize their respective Jewish and gay populations for a very long time.—
David Colman,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Feb. 2026
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Because in hindsight, there was a lot of luck that played into the public’s preparations for this storm, with forecasters in the uncomfortable position of rapidly ratcheting up their warnings with precious little preparation time to spare.—
Andrew Freedman,
CNN Money,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Lizzie McGuire made viewers feel seen because Duff was clumsy and awkward, falling into platters of spaghetti and getting dumped by her first boyfriend.—
Angie Martoccio,
Rolling Stone,
19 Feb. 2026
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The tech driving my first clumsy steps included a six-axis inertial measurement unit (IMU) and GPS sensors monitoring each ski’s position and the weight and angle of my heel.—
Kendall Hunter,
Outside,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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That has trading partners uneasy.—
Stan Choe,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
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Now, marquee names like LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo have gotten into the game, creating an uneasy juxtaposition as other players have bemoaned the effects of gambling and verbal assault from fans.—
Mike Vorkunov,
New York Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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When cutting food, holding the meat with the fork in an awkward vertical position.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
23 Feb. 2026
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Other awkward—and more viral—moments included OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei stealing the spotlight from Modi by refusing to hold hands for a photo op designed to be a show of unity and triumph.—
Beatrice Nolan,
Fortune,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Their rustic aesthetic heralded an acoustic music boom that included acts like Ed Sheeran, Noah Kahan, and Zach Bryan, and their sound crept into the rhythms of pop.—
Jon Dolan,
Rolling Stone,
21 Feb. 2026
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Elsewhere in the hotel, the look is rustic and Mediterranean, combining traditional elements like wooden ceiling beams, elegant canopies draped over king-size beds, and carpets made of natural fibers.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wooden.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wooden. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
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