Awkward — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈȯ-kwərd/ awk·ward

Meaning & Definition of Awkward

Awkward (adjective)

  1. having or showing a lack of grace, skill, or ease (as in a movement or activity)
  2. lacking the right proportions, size, or harmony of parts, ungainly
  3. lacking social grace and assurance

Awkward (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. lacking social grace and assurance

    "preteens feeling awkward at their first formal dance"

    similar: clumsy, gauche, graceless, inelegant, rough-hewn, rustic, stiff, stilted, uncomfortable, uneasy, ungraceful, wooden
    related: angular, gawky, lubberly, ungainly, boorish, clownish, uncouth, abashed, discomfited, discomforted, discomposed, disconcerted, discountenanced, embarrassed, self-conscious, agitated, bothered, chagrined, dismayed, disquieted, distressed, disturbed, fazed, flustered, jittery, jumpy, mortified, nervous, nonplussed, perturbed, rattled, unhinged, unsettled, upset, diffident, insecure, meek, modest, self-doubting, timid, unassertive, unassuming, unpretentious
    opposite: graceful, suave, urbane
    near: assured, calm, collected, composed, confident, cool, placid, poised, secure, self-assured, self-confident, self-possessed, serene, tranquil, undisturbed, unperturbed

  2. 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"

    similar: botched, bungling, clumsy, fumbled, inept, inexpert, maladroit
    related: amateur, amateurish, crude, green, incompetent, ineffectual, inefficient, inexperienced, unpolished, unprofessional, unskilled, unskillful, careless, sloppy, tacky, tactless, undiplomatic, ill-advised, ineffective, misdirected, misguided
    opposite: adroit, deft, dexterous, facile
    near: able, accomplished, adept, capable, clever, competent, consummate, crackerjack, expert, masterful, masterly, polished, professional, proficient, skilled, skillful, talented, diplomatic, easy, effortless, gracious, smooth, tactful

  3. causing embarrassment

    "the awkward situation of having to listen as your host and hostess quarrel loudly in the next room"

    similar: discomfiting, disconcerting, disturbing, embarrassing, flustering, uncomfortable
    related: confusing, difficult, disagreeable, impossible, inconvenient, intolerable, troublesome, unpleasant, unwieldy, unsettling, debasing, degrading, demeaning, humbling, humiliating, mortifying
    near: agreeable, comfortable, convenient, pleasing

  4. causing difficulty, discomfort, or annoyance

    "our surprise guests came at a very awkward time"

    similar: discommoding, disobliging, incommoding, inconvenient
    related: bothersome, burdensome, onerous, troublesome, annoying, disturbing, exasperating, frustrating, galling, irksome, irritating, maddening, nagging, nettlesome, riling, vexatious, vexing
    opposite: convenient, ultraconvenient
    near: acceptable, bearable, endurable, sufferable, tolerable, advantageous, desirable, good, helpful

  5. difficult to use or operate especially because of size, weight, or design

    "that manual can opener is awkward to hold"

    similar: bunglesome, clumsy, clunky, cranky, cumbersome, cumbrous, ponderous, ungainly, unhandy, unwieldy
    related: uncontrollable, unmanageable, bulky, dinosaurian, dinosauric, elephantine, heavy, hulking, massive, impracticable, impractical
    opposite: handy
    near: functional, practicable, practical, serviceable, useful

  6. having or showing an inability to move in a graceful manner

    "an awkward person who is always tripping over herself"

    similar: clumsy, gawkish, gawky, graceless, klutzy, uncoordinated, ungainly
    related: galumphing, larruping (dialect), lubberly, lumbering, lumpish, shambling, shuffling, unsteady, wobbly
    opposite: coordinated, graceful
    near: light, light-footed, lissome, lithe, nimble, sure-footed

  7. lacking or showing a lack of nimbleness in using one's hands

    "an awkward catch of a fly ball"

    similar: butterfingered, cack-handed (British), clumsy, graceless, ham-fisted, ham-handed, handless, heavy-handed, left-handed, maladroit, unhandy, all thumbs
    related: uncoordinated, bunglesome, bungling, gauche, inept, inexpert, unskilled, unskillful
    opposite: deft, dexterous, handy, sure-handed
    near: expert, masterly, skilled, skillful, coordinated

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Awkward

The most common words with a similar meaning to Awkward:

British: cack-handed
clumsy, gauche, graceless, inelegant, rough-hewn, rustic, stiff, stilted, uncomfortable, uneasy, ungraceful, wooden, botched, bungling, fumbled, inept, inexpert, maladroit, discomfiting, disconcerting, disturbing, embarrassing, flustering, discommoding, disobliging, incommoding, inconvenient, bunglesome, clunky, cranky, cumbersome, cumbrous, ponderous, ungainly, unhandy, unwieldy, gawkish, gawky, klutzy, uncoordinated

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Awkward

Words with the opposite meaning of Awkward:

graceful, suave, urbane, adroit, deft, dexterous, facile, convenient, ultraconvenient, handy, coordinated, sure-handed

Related Words for Awkward

angular, lubberly, boorish, clownish, uncouth, abashed, discomfited, discomforted, discomposed, disconcerted, discountenanced, embarrassed, self-conscious, agitated, bothered, chagrined, dismayed, disquieted, distressed, disturbed, fazed, flustered, jittery, jumpy, mortified, nervous, nonplussed, perturbed, rattled, unhinged

Near Antonyms of Awkward

assured, calm, collected, composed, confident, cool, placid, poised, secure, self-assured, self-confident, self-possessed, serene, tranquil, undisturbed, unperturbed, able, accomplished, adept, capable, clever, competent, consummate, crackerjack, expert, masterful, masterly, polished, professional, proficient

Word Forms of Awkward

Derived words: awkwardly (adverb), awkwardness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Awkward

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

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Awkward

Frequently Asked Questions about Awkward

What does "Awkward" mean?

"Awkward" means having or showing a lack of grace, skill, or ease (as in a movement or activity). As an adjective, it is defined as: having or showing a lack of grace, skill, or ease (as in a movement or activity). It has 7 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Awkward"?

Other words for "Awkward" include clumsy, gauche, graceless, inelegant, rough-hewn, rustic, stiff and stilted. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Awkward" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Awkward"?

There are 158 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Awkward". Common alternatives include clumsy, gauche, graceless, inelegant, rough-hewn, rustic, stiff, stilted, uncomfortable and uneasy.

What is the opposite of "Awkward"?

Antonyms of "Awkward" include graceful, suave, urbane, adroit, deft, dexterous, facile and convenient. Near antonyms include assured, calm, collected and composed.

How do you use "Awkward" in a sentence?

Examples of "Awkward" in a sentence: "preteens feeling awkward at their first formal dance"; "her awkward handling of the seating arrangements at the wedding reception resulted in many hurt feelings"; "the awkward situation of having to listen as your host and hostess quarrel loudly in the next room".

Is "Awkward" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Awkward" is an adjective.

Is "Awkward" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Awkward" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Awkward"?

"Awkward" is pronounced /ˈȯ-kwərd/ and divided into syllables as awk·ward.