awkward

adjective

awk·​ward ˈȯ-kwərd 

1

: having or showing a lack of grace, skill, or ease (as in a movement or activity)

an awkward public speaker

awkward with his hands

awkward at sports

… escaped a knee injury after an awkward landing …

—Cam Inman

… light verse, with some awkward phrasing.

—Jonathan Bate

2

: lacking the right proportions, size, or harmony of parts : ungainly

an awkward design

3

a

: lacking social grace and assurance

a shy and awkward teenager

is awkward with strangers

b

: causing embarrassment

an awkward moment

c

: embarrassed

felt awkward about the misunderstanding

4

a

: not easy to handle or deal with (as due to size, shape, or position)

working at an awkward angle

It's not heavy—it's just awkward.

The controls are awkward to use.

b

: requiring great skill, ingenuity, or care

an awkward diplomatic situation

5

obsolete : perverse

6

archaic : unfavorable, adverse

awkwardly adverb

awkwardness noun

Synonyms of awkward

• uncomfortable
• uneasy
• clumsy

Choose the Right Synonym for awkward

awkward, clumsy, maladroit, inept, gauche mean not marked by ease (as of performance, movement, or social conduct).

awkward is widely applicable and may suggest unhandiness, inconvenience, lack of muscular control, embarrassment, or lack of tact.

periods of awkward silence

clumsy implies stiffness and heaviness and so may connote inflexibility, unwieldiness, or lack of ordinary skill.

a clumsy mechanic

maladroit suggests a tendency to create awkward situations.

a maladroit politician

inept often implies complete failure or inadequacy.

a hopelessly inept defense attorney

gauche implies the effects of shyness, inexperience, or ill breeding.

felt gauche and unsophisticated at formal parties

Examples of awkward in a Sentence

I was electrified by what I learned in college. Still socially awkward, I had the bad habit of stopping strangers in the street to pour my heart out about the latest marvel I had learned. —Jaron Lanier, Curious Minds, (2004) 2005

Greene must have known that such men would not spill the beans about his irregular life or ask awkward questions, though Burgess famously teased him for being … a poseur, and was banished. —Paul Theroux, New York Times Book Review, 17 Oct. 2004

On the ground, vultures are hunched and awkward bundles of feathers, but in the air, where I watch them during much of the day, they are magnificent graceful soarers. —Words From the Land, Stephen Trimble, editor, 1988

She is awkward at dancing.

He had large feet and his walk was awkward and ungainly.

The story contained some awkward writing.

She is an awkward writer.

The machine is very awkward to operate.

I often find myself in awkward situations.

He was put in the awkward position of having to write the memo.

There was an awkward pause in the conversation.

He feels awkward with strangers.

Recent Examples on the Web

In the good year of 2025, we’ve been collectively brow-beaten into looking down our noses at Gen Z and their anti-social ways, while laughing at Millennials’ ankle socks and awkward pauses. —Olivia Allen, Vogue, 18 Nov. 2025

Some Republicans who had loudly opposed the measure now appear poised to support it after the President’s sudden reversal, potentially putting them in an awkward position during the floor vote on Tuesday. —Nik Popli, Time, 17 Nov. 2025

It was led by one of her costars from the 1980 film 9 to 5, Lily Tomlin, who, after being greeted with a standing ovation, struggled to read the teleprompter, which made for a funny but awkward segment. —Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 16 Nov. 2025

His younger sister, Dana Gossett recalls Rigsby as socially awkward but brilliant. —Sofie Buckminster, semafor.com, 16 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English awkeward in the wrong direction, from awke turned the wrong way, from Old Norse ǫfugr; akin to Old High German abuh turned the wrong way

First Known Use

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 5

Kids Definition

awkward

adjective

awk·​ward ˈȯ-kwərd 

1

: lacking skill and flexibility (as in the use of the hands)

2

: not graceful : clumsy

3

: causing embarrassment

an awkward situation

4

: difficult to use or handle

an awkward tool

awkwardly adverb

awkwardness noun