awkward (ˈɔːkwəd
)
Definitions
adjective
- lacking dexterity, proficiency, or skill; clumsy; inept ⇒
the new recruits were awkward in their exercises
- ungainly or inelegant in movements or posture ⇒
despite a great deal of practice she remained an awkward dancer
- unwieldy; difficult to use ⇒
an awkward implement
- embarrassing ⇒
an awkward moment
- embarrassed ⇒
he felt awkward about leaving
- difficult to deal with; requiring tact ⇒
an awkward situation
an awkward customer
- deliberately uncooperative or unhelpful ⇒
he could help but he is being awkward
- dangerous or difficult ⇒
an awkward ascent of the ridge
- obsolete perverse
Alternative Forms
ˈawkwardly adverb ˈawkwardness nounWord Origin
C14 awk, from Old Norse öfugr turned the wrong way round + -wardSynonyms
View thesaurus entry=
embarrassing,
difficult,
compromising,
sensitive,
embarrassed,
painful,
distressing,
delicate,
uncomfortable,
tricky,
trying,
humiliating,
unpleasant,
sticky,
troublesome,
perplexing,
disconcerting,
inconvenient,
thorny,
untimely,
ill at ease,
discomfiting,
ticklish,
inopportune,
toe-curling,
barro,
cringeworthy,
cringe-making,
=
clumsy,
stiff,
rude,
blundering,
coarse,
bungling,
lumbering,
inept,
unskilled,
bumbling,
unwieldy,
ponderous,
ungainly,
gauche,
gawky,
uncouth,
unrefined,
artless,
inelegant,
uncoordinated,
graceless,
cack-handed,
unpolished,
clownish,
oafish,
inexpert,
maladroit,
ill-bred,
all thumbs,
ungraceful,
skill-less,
unskilful,
butterfingered,
unhandy,
ham-fisted or ham-handed
unco,
=
uncooperative,
trying,
difficult,
annoying,
unpredictable,
unreasonable,
stubborn,
troublesome,
perverse,
prickly,
exasperating,
irritable,
intractable,
vexing,
unhelpful,
touchy,
obstinate,
obstructive,
bloody-minded,
chippy,
vexatious,
hard to handle
disobliging,
Translations
- British English:
awkward
An awkward situation is embarrassing and difficult to deal with.It was a bit awkward for me.ˈɔːkwəd ADJECTIVE It was a bit awkward for me.
- Spanish:
incómodo
adj incómoda
- French:
gauche
adj
- German:
ungünstig
adj
- Chinese: 笨拙的 adj
- Arabic: مُحْرِج adj
- Portuguese: desajeitado adj desajeitada
- Russian: неуклюжий adj неуклюжая
- Croatian: nespretan adj nespretna
- Czech: nemotorný adj
- Danish: akavet adj
- Dutch: onhandig adj
- Finnish: kömpelö adj
- Greek: αδέξιος adj αδέξια
- Italian: maldestro adj maldestra
- Japanese: 不器用な no_posp
- Korean: 서투른 adj
- Norwegian: tafatt adj
- Polish: niezgrabny adj niezgrabna
- Brazilian Portuguese: desajeitado adj desajeitada
- European Spanish:
incómodo
adj incómoda
- Swedish: generad adj generat
- Thai: งุ่มง่าม adj
- Turkish: beceriksiz adj
- Vietnamese: vụng về adj
Usage examples
They said their farewells on the doorstep, stepping into an awkward hug, his lips brushing the soft skin under her ear.
, THE LAST TEMPTATION (2002)His son may be acting "bloody awkward " in an attempt to irritate the Saudis.
Globe and Mail (2003)A professional photographer will have all the necessary equipment to cope with an overcast day, awkward lighting or brilliant sunshine.
Glasgow Herald (2001)The Asian crisis had placed Greenspan in an awkward position.
, DOT.CON (2001)