Meaning & Definition of word "Awkward"
Awkward
/ˈɔːkwərd/
adjective:
- 1. lacking grace or ease in movement or performance; clumsy.
- Example: His awkward attempts at dancing made everyone uncomfortable.
- 2. causing difficulty; hard to deal with.
- Example: The team faced an awkward situation when they had to present their findings without the main data.
- 3. socially uncomfortable; embarrassing.
- Example: There was an awkward silence after she made an inappropriate joke.
- 4. not coordinated or well-designed.
- Example: 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 of awkward
Meaning: cringe-worthy
● Example Sentence: Their flirting was so awkward, it was totally cringe-worthy.
Meaning: weird
● Example Sentence: That party had an awkward vibe, it felt really weird.