Awkward

/ˈɔːkwərd/

Meaning & Definition

adjective
lacking grace or ease in movement or performance; clumsy.
His awkward attempts at dancing made everyone uncomfortable.
causing difficulty; hard to deal with.
The team faced an awkward situation when they had to present their findings without the main data.
socially uncomfortable; embarrassing.
There was an awkward silence after she made an inappropriate joke.
not coordinated or well-designed.
The awkward layout of the room made it difficult to move around comfortably.

Etymology

Middle English, from 'awk' (backward) and 'ward', meaning 'turned in a direction that is not normal'

Common Phrases and Expressions

an awkward moment
a point in time that causes discomfort due to social missteps
awkward silence
a period of silence that occurs in conversation that is uncomfortable or embarrassing
awkward situation
a circumstance that makes people feel uncomfortable
awkward turtle
a playful expression used to describe discomfort in a situation

Related Words

clumsiness
the quality of being clumsy; lack of coordination
inept
having or showing no skill; clumsy
gawk
to stare stupidly; to gawk

Slang Meanings

cringe-worthy
Their flirting was so awkward, it was totally cringe-worthy.
weird
That party had an awkward vibe, it felt really weird.