awkward
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awkward
- /ˈɔːk.wəd/ UK
- /ˈaːk.wɐd/ Northumbria, UK
- /ˈɔk.wɚd/ US
- /ˈɑk.wɚd/ cot caught merger
- /ˈoːk.wəd/ Australia, New Zealand
Where it comes from
From awk (“odd, clumsy”) + -ward. Compare Middle English aukeward (“in the wrong direction”).
adjective more awkward · most awkward
-
Lacking dexterity in the use of the hands or of tools.
John was awkward at performing the trick. He'll have to practice to improve.
Similar: clumsy, ungainly, unhandy, gawky, lubberly · Opposite: dexterous, graceful, handy, skillful
-
Not easily managed; embarrassing.
That was an extremely awkward moment. Everyone was watching.
Similar: recalcitrant
- Lacking social skills, or uncomfortable with social interaction. I'm very awkward at parties.
-
Perverse; adverse; difficult to handle.
He's a right awkward chap.
Similar: cantankerous, ungainly, unwieldy
noun awkwards
- Someone or something that is awkward. Another important branch of deportment was to seat the awkwards stiffly on the extreme edge of a chair, fold the hands on the very precarious lap, droop the eyes in a pensive way.
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: strained, labored, laboured, difficult, cumbersome, hard, embarrassing, sticky, bunglesome, clunky, gawky, clumsy, ungainly, uneasy, uncomfortable, unwieldy
Translations
Every language
adj lacking dexterity in the use of the hands
| Español | torpe, desmañado |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 서투르다 seotureuda |
| 日本語 | 不器用な bukiyō na, 不便な fuben na |
| 中文 | 彆扭 /别扭 bièniu |
| Português | desajeitado, bisonho |
| Français | maladroit, gauche |
| Deutsch | ungeschickt, unbeholfen, umständlich, tollpatschig, tölpelhaft |
| Italiano | maldestro, impacciato, goffo |
| Ελληνικά | αδέξιος adéxios |
| Română | neîndemânatic, stângaci |
| Русский | нело́вкий nelóvkij, неуклю́жий neukljúžij |
adj not easily managed; embarrassing
| Español | embarazoso, delicado, incómodo, dificultoso |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 어색하다 eosaekhada |
| 日本語 | ぎごちない gigochinai, 気まずい kimazui |
| 中文 | 尷尬 /尴尬 gāngà |
| Português | constrangedor, desconcertante, sem jeito |
| Français | embarrassant |
| Deutsch | peinlich, betreten, unangenehm, umständlich, beklemmend, awkward |
| Italiano | imbarazzato, poco opportuno, delicato, imbarazzante, inopportuno |
| Ελληνικά | δύσκολος dýskolos |
| Русский | нело́вкий nelóvkij, неудо́бный neudóbnyj, затрудни́тельный zatrudnítelʹnyj |
adj lacking social skills, or uncomfortable with social interaction
| Español | embarazoso, premioso, desgarbado, desgarbilado |
|---|---|
| Português | tímido, tímida, inseguro, insegura |
| Deutsch | peinlich, ungelenk, umständlich, schüchtern, unbeholfen, verlegen |
adj perverse; adverse; untoward
| Español | difícil, atravesado |
|---|---|
| Português | incómodo |
| Français | inconvenant |
| Deutsch | verdreht, verkorkst, Umstände machend, umständlich, unangenehm |
| Italiano | scomodo, poco maneggevole, difficile |
Talk about this word "awkward." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/awkward. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. awkward. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/awkward "awkward." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/awkward.Cite this
@misc{awkward_2026,
title = {awkward},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/awkward},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
