awkward

adjective

ˈȯ-kwərd How to pronounce awkward (audio)
Definition of awkwardnext
1
as in uncomfortable
lacking social grace and assurance preteens feeling awkward at their first formal dance

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2
as in clumsy
showing or marked by a lack of skill and tact (as in dealing with a situation) her awkward handling of the seating arrangements at the wedding reception resulted in many hurt feelings

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3
as in embarrassing
causing embarrassment the awkward situation of having to listen as your host and hostess quarrel loudly in the next room

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4
as in annoying
causing difficulty, discomfort, or annoyance our surprise guests came at a very awkward time

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5
as in cumbersome
difficult to use or operate especially because of size, weight, or design that manual can opener is awkward to hold

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6
as in unsteady
having or showing an inability to move in a graceful manner an awkward person who is always tripping over herself

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7
as in unhandy
lacking or showing a lack of nimbleness in using one's hands an awkward catch of a fly ball

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective awkward contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of awkward are clumsy, gauche, inept, and maladroit. While all these words 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

In what contexts can clumsy take the place of awkward?

While the synonyms clumsy and awkward are close in meaning, clumsy implies stiffness and heaviness and so may connote inflexibility, unwieldiness, or lack of ordinary skill.

a clumsy mechanic

When would gauche be a good substitute for awkward?

In some situations, the words gauche and awkward are roughly equivalent. However, gauche implies the effects of shyness, inexperience, or ill breeding.

felt gauche and unsophisticated at formal parties

When might inept be a better fit than awkward?

The words inept and awkward are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, inept often implies complete failure or inadequacy.

a hopelessly inept defense attorney

When could maladroit be used to replace awkward?

The meanings of maladroit and awkward largely overlap; however, maladroit suggests a tendency to create awkward situations.

a maladroit politician

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 awkward The width of the pants is specifically designed to go over boots without looking awkward. — Bianca Kratky, Glamour, 8 Oct. 2026 The high-stick caused Marchand to twist around and collide with the right post before his left leg bent back in an awkward way. — CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026 Now, the aging superstar finds himself in an awkward situation where no one wants to be – overstaying his welcome like that uncle at Thanksgiving or Christmas who can’t read the room. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2026 My trans voice back then was awkward and unready—barely a speech-sound, let alone an expression of agency or a part of some greater whole. — Literary Hub, 5 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for awkward
Recent Examples of Synonyms for awkward
  1. uncomfortable
  2. clumsy
  3. embarrassing
  4. annoying
  5. cumbersome
  6. unsteady
  7. uneasy
  8. inexperienced
Adjective
  • There’s also something of the uncomfortable social observation of Ruben Östlund, Bong Joon Ho or Yorgos Lanthimos, and the freedom of filmmakers who allow situations to become absurd without explaining the joke.
    — Annika Pham, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
  • The dry air inside an airplane cabin, combined with hours spent wearing contact lenses during a long travel day, can leave the lenses with less moisture and eyes feeling increasingly uncomfortable, experts say.
    — Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of uncomfortable
Adjective
  • One of the clumsiest parts of Klosterman’s book is his attempts at political punditry.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Feed your head Neagley gets off to a sluggish start, with a workmanlike, rather clumsy first episode largely spent establishing the main characters and central plot—and the writers lean a bit too hard on constant Chicago callbacks.
    — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of clumsy
Adjective
  • And this is an indelible stain on the country of Norway, and those people that made such a disgraceful and embarrassing decision.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 10 Oct. 2026
  • What’s most embarrassing is that Alexis can’t even commit to storming off.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of embarrassing
Adjective
  • In Atrahasis, noisy humans become annoying to the gods, so the gods drown them.
    — Eric Vanden Eykel, The Conversation, 6 Oct. 2026
  • There's a lot to love about this Lego Icons Project Hail Mary set, including the lack of annoying stickers.
    — Chris McMullen, Space.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of annoying
Adjective
  • Though there are other techniques for directly locating explosives, these tend to be cumbersome and can only detect explosives in bulk, while MineReader is as portable as a conventional detector rig.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 12 Oct. 2026
  • The process for officially revoking certificates is slow and cumbersome, so browser makers have devised quicker methods to block specific certificates at the browser level.
    — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of cumbersome
Adjective
  • In previous years, Ryans could lean on his defense to bail out an unsteady offense.
    — Mike Jones, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2026
  • When Latif’s wife dies, he’s immediately forced to tamp down on the instincts that have provided for his family and wade unsteady into a world of bottles, transport, and dinner time.
    — CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of unsteady
Adjective
  • Many of the women interviewed still feel uneasy about the experience.
    — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2026
  • There was some uneasy laughter, and then, what everyone else was too afraid to say came from the only person who could.
    — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of uneasy
Adjective
  • The problem of absent or inexperienced ambassadors goes both ways.
    — Donald Heflin, The Conversation, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Officials are urging anyone spending time near the water to use a life jacket, especially children and inexperienced swimmers.
    — Brady Halbleib, CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of inexperienced

Browse Nearby Words

awing
awkward
awkwardly
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Cite this Entry

“Awkward.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/awkward. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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