awkward

awk-ward · adjective

imported

Definitions

adjective

  1. 1.

    Causing or feeling embarrassment or discomfort; socially uncomfortable.

  2. 2.

    Not graceful or skillful in movement or manner; clumsy.

  3. 3.

    Difficult to use, handle, or deal with; inconvenient.

  4. 4.

    Deliberately unhelpful or uncooperative.

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    awkward age — Adolescence; a difficult period of development.
  • •
    awkward silence — An uncomfortable pause in conversation.
  • •
    awkward squad — A group of difficult or uncooperative people.
  • •
    feel awkward — To feel socially uncomfortable.

Related words

Antonyms: comfortable, graceful, natural, smooth
See also: awkwardly, awkwardness, clumsy, embarrassing, uncomfortable
Synonyms: clumsy, embarrassing, gauche, uncomfortable, ungainly

Etymology

From Middle English awk ("turned the wrong way, backhanded") + -ward (directional suffix). Related to Old Norse ǫfugr ("turned backwards"). Originally meant "in the wrong direction."