51Թ

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View synonyms for

awkward

[awk-werd]

adjective

  1. lacking skill or dexterity.

    Synonyms: , , , ,
    Antonyms: , , , ,
  2. lacking grace or ease in movement.

    an awkward gesture;

    an awkward dancer.

    Synonyms: , , , , ,
    Antonyms:
  3. lacking social graces or manners.

    a simple, awkward frontiersman.

    Synonyms: , , , , , ,
    Antonyms: , , , , , ,
  4. not well planned or designed for easy or effective use.

    an awkward instrument;

    an awkward method.

    Synonyms: , , , , ,
  5. requiring caution; somewhat hazardous.

    an awkward turn in the road.

    Synonyms: , , , , , ,
  6. hard to deal with; difficult; requiring skill, tact, or the like.

    an awkward situation;

    an awkward customer.

  7. embarrassing or inconvenient; caused by lack of social grace.

    an awkward moment.

    Synonyms: , , , , ,
  8. Obsolete.untoward; perverse.



awkward

/ ˈɔːə /

adjective

  1. lacking dexterity, proficiency, or skill; clumsy; inept

    the new recruits were awkward in their exercises

  2. ungainly or inelegant in movements or posture

    despite a great deal of practice she remained an awkward dancer

  3. unwieldy; difficult to use

    an awkward implement

  4. embarrassing

    an awkward moment

  5. embarrassed

    he felt awkward about leaving

  6. difficult to deal with; requiring tact

    an awkward situation

    an awkward customer

  7. deliberately uncooperative or unhelpful

    he could help but he is being awkward

  8. dangerous or difficult

    an awkward ascent of the ridge

  9. obsoleteperverse

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other 51Թ Forms

  • awkwardly adverb
  • awkwardness noun
  • unawkward adjective
  • unawkwardly adverb
  • unawkwardness noun
  • ˈɰɲ adverb
  • ˈɰɲԱ noun
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of awkward1

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, equivalent to awk(e), auk(e) “backhanded,” (unattested) Old English afoc (from Old Norse ǫڳܲ “turned the wrong way, backwards”; cognate with Old Saxon, Old High German abuh “wrong, bad,” Old English afu(h)lic “perverse”) + -ward suffix denoting direction; off, -ward
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of awkward1

C14 awk, from Old Norse öڳܲ turned the wrong way round + -ward
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

It’s a bit awkward to give a “best of” accolade to a book when you’re not entirely sure it should exist.

From

If the US leaves, Aukus could very well become an awkward Auk – but could the UK realistically offer enough for Australia to sustain the agreement?

From

It’s a good thing too — otherwise the event being thrown in his honor at the team’s home stadium this weekend might be a little awkward.

From

Murderbot is stoic but awkward and unaccustomed to human emotions, which it learns about by surreptitiously watching hours of soap operas.

From

There were "patches of quietened gasps and awkward half-laughs and broken clapping" in the audience, they said.

From

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whole new ballgame, aawkward age