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Definitions

awkward

[awk-werd] / ˈɔk wərd /
ADJECTIVE
clumsy, inelegant
Synonyms
STRONGEST
amateurish rude stiff
WEAK
all thumbs artless blundering bulky bumbling bungling butterfingers coarse floundering gawky graceless green having two left feet having two left hands incompetent inept inexpert klutzy lumbering maladroit oafish stumbling uncoordinated uncouth unfit ungainly ungraceful unhandy unpolished unrefined unskilled unskillful
Antonyms
WEAK
adroit artful clever convenient dexterous easy elegant graceful handy skillful straightforward
ADJECTIVE
difficult to handle
Synonyms
STRONGEST
annoying cumbersome dangerous inconvenient perilous risky troublesome uncomfortable unwieldy
WEAK
bulky chancy cramped disagreeable discommodious hard to use hazardous incommodious unhandy unmanageable
Antonyms
STRONGEST
convenient easy helpful safe secure
WEAK
adroit artful clever dexterous elegant graceful handy skillful straightforward
ADJECTIVE
embarrassing
Synonyms
STRONGEST
delicate difficult embarrassed inconvenient painful ticklish troublesome uncomfortable unpleasant
WEAK
compromising ill at ease inopportune perplexing sticky thorny trying untimely
Antonyms
STRONGEST
delightful easy helpful painless pleasant straightforward
WEAK
adroit artful clever convenient dexterous elegant graceful handy skillful

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It’s led to some awkward silences and classic prank calls.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

Materne also highlighted that an awkward transition is taking shape, as software stocks go from being growth- or momentum-oriented plays to being value stocks.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026

“It was a ghost town. It felt awkward for the people attending, because it was so silent and empty... We were just as in the dark about the event as the attendees were.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

Domestically, Lawrence Okolie, with his awkward, grappling-heavy style, could offer a different kind of challenge.

From BBC • Mar. 28, 2026

An awkward silence was filled with the sounds of forks and knives clinking on plates, so Monty tried to break the ice.

From "City Spies" by James Ponti

Vocabulary lists containing awkward

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English Words Derived from Old Norse

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