wooden

adjective

ˈwu̇-dᵊn How to pronounce wooden (audio)
Definition of woodennext
as in uncomfortable
lacking social grace and assurance an eminent scientist who was wooden in front of television cameras

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of wooden For the residency, Golann produced a monumental wooden vessel adorned with nature motifs carved in bas relief. — Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 30 Oct. 2026 Rocky arrived at the Museum of Modern Art swinging a small wooden acorn bag from Chanel’s Métiers d’art 2026 collection on its gold chain. — Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2026 There was also a large kitchen with a high-end range, a sunroom with a balcony, and a curved wooden staircase leading to the upstairs bedrooms. — Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 30 Oct. 2026 The replacement of some staircase windows with movable aluminum composite panels or wooden boards for workers’ convenience allowed smoke to infiltrate residents’ escape routes. — ABC News, 29 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wooden
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wooden
  1. uncomfortable
  2. clumsy
  3. uneasy
  4. awkward
  5. rustic
Adjective
  • Pryor taught me that comedy can be dangerous, uncomfortable, and still bring down the house.
    — Emma Specter, Vogue, 31 Oct. 2026
  • Speaking from experience, the right footwear can transform an uncomfortable ensemble into something actually functional, warm, and totally worth wearing.
    — Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of uncomfortable
Adjective
  • As Ivan and Nina wrestle with their own emotional truths, which range from her mother Nora’s departure from their lives to Ivan’s clumsy recitations of Nina’s childhood antics, something alarming is afoot.
    — Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Here, his clumsy, winky, affected, and self-undercutting direction can’t even work the charming Jenna Ortega to a great performance, as her Klara is flattened into a bundle of manic pixie mannerisms both physical and verbal.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of clumsy
Adjective
  • That uneasy feeling settles over the rest of Infinite Now like suffocating humidity.
    — Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Some support industrial policy but are uneasy about framing it principally around competition with China.
    — THOMAS WRIGHT, Foreign Affairs, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of uneasy
Adjective
  • Trump’s local appearances might present an awkward situation for some candidates who have sought to distance themselves from the president.
    — Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Oct. 2026
  • In Sam’s case, his roaring egotism is somewhat awkward because he’s also obsessed with the idea of being altruistic.
    — Joy Press, Vanity Fair, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of awkward
Adjective
  • With a rustic aesthetic, the cottage is charming and artsy, with antique finds from the owners' travels around the world.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The log-style cabin offers a more rustic counterpoint to the main home’s contemporary design.
    — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of rustic

Browse Nearby Words

wood
wooden
woodenhead
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Cite this Entry

“Wooden.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wooden. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

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