awkward

[ awk-werd ]

/ ˈɔk wərd /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR awkward ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

lacking skill or dexterity.

lacking grace or ease in movement: an awkward gesture; an awkward dancer.

lacking social graces or manners: a simple, awkward frontiersman.

not well planned or designed for easy or effective use: an awkward instrument; an awkward method.

requiring caution; somewhat hazardous: an awkward turn in the road.

hard to deal with; difficult; requiring skill, tact, or the like: an awkward situation; an awkward customer.

embarrassing or inconvenient; caused by lack of social grace: an awkward moment.

Obsolete. untoward; perverse.

Origin of awkward

1300–50; Middle English, equivalent to awk(e), auk(e) ‘backhanded’, Old English *afoc (< Old Norse ǫfugr ‘turned the wrong way’; cognate with Old Saxon, Old High German abuh, Old English afu(h)lic ‘wrong’, off) + -ward -ward

OTHER WORDS FROM awkward

awk·ward·ly, adverb awk·ward·ness, noun un·awk·ward, adjective un·awk·ward·ly, adverb

un·awk·ward·ness, noun

Words nearby awkward

awfully, awhato, awheel, awhile, awhirl, awkward, awkward age, awl, awl snail, awl-shaped, awless

Example sentences from the Web for awkwardly

Even Anderson Cooper, who Fitzgibbon once awkwardly introduced himself to at an airport, knows the publication.

The Winning Gay Subtlety of ‘Hello Mr.’ |Justin Jones |September 26, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West awkwardly embrace in color-coordinated pastel suits for their re-imagined Vogue cover.

Artist Gives Celebs the ‘Natural’ Look |Justin Jones |July 24, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
When Don bails the next day, and Amy awkwardly bounces, Megan is once again left all alone, and frustrated.

Mad Men’s ‘The Runaways’: Three-Way Sex and Self-Mutilation in the Craziest Episode Yet |Marlow Stern |May 12, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Awkwardly for Clinton, those critics may number more and more of the people whose support brought her as far as she has come.

Hillary Clinton’s Iran Trap |David Frum |November 26, 2013 |DAILY BEAST

We start slowly, shyly, and awkwardly just like most teenagers discovering the birds and the bees.

How 10 Porn Stars Lost Their Virginity |Aurora Snow |May 7, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
He took the hand that was offered to him, but took it awkwardly, and sat down as he was bidden.

Lady Anna |Anthony Trollope
She wore a dress which did not suit her; her hair was awkwardly arranged; there was a scowl on her brow.

Light O' The Morning |L. T. Meade
A young man wearing a windbreaker jacket and awkwardly holding a crowbar spoke first.

The Mystery of Jockey Hollow |Cleo Garis
Horace is awkwardly placed between these two friendly remonstrants, to whom he promises perpetual love.

Calamities and Quarrels of Authors |Isaac Disraeli
Festing complied; awkwardly at first, and then with growing confidence.

The Girl From Keller's |Harold Bindloss

British Dictionary definitions for awkwardly

awkward

/ (ˈɔːkwəd) /

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

Derived forms of awkward

awkwardly, adverb awkwardness, noun

Word Origin for awkward

C14 awk, from Old Norse öfugr turned the wrong way round + -ward

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

awkward

adjective

Origin of awkward

OTHER WORDS FROM awkward

Words nearby awkward

Example sentences from the Web for awkwardly

British Dictionary definitions for awkwardly

adjective

Derived forms of awkward

Word Origin for awkward

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

awkward

adjective

Origin of awkward

OTHER WORDS FROM awkward

Words nearby awkward

Words related to awkwardly

Example sentences from the Web for awkwardly

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for awkwardly

adjective

Derived forms of awkward

Word Origin for awkward

British Dictionary definitions for awkwardly