Meaning & use
awkward
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Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Causing or showing embarrassment, so that people feel uncomfortable.
Grammar: Describes situations or people: an awkward silence, felt awkward.
Patterns
- an awkward silence
- feel awkward about something
There was an awkward silence after his joke.
She felt awkward at the party where she knew nobody.
It was awkward to meet my former boss in the elevator.
adjectivecomparable
Not graceful, with clumsy or uncomfortable movements.
Grammar: Describes body movement: an awkward step.
Patterns
- an awkward movement
- walk awkwardly
He made an awkward attempt to catch the ball.
The toddler took a few awkward steps.
She fell with an awkward twist of her ankle.
adjectivecomparable
Difficult to use, carry or deal with because of its shape or position.
Grammar: Describes objects or places: an awkward corner.
Patterns
- an awkward shape
- awkward to carry
The sofa was too awkward to carry upstairs.
The shelf is in an awkward spot behind the door.
The long box was awkward to fit in the car.
adjectivecomparable
Inconvenient or hard to deal with, such as a time or question.
Grammar: Often with time, question or situation.
Patterns
- an awkward time
- an awkward question
I'm sorry, but this is an awkward time to talk.
The reporter asked the mayor an awkward question.
We're in an awkward position because the funds ran out.
Word forms
| comparative | more awkward |
|---|---|
| superlative | most awkward |
Common combinations
- awkward silence
- An awkward silence followed the announcement.
- awkward moment
- It was an awkward moment when the names were mixed up.
- awkward question
- The journalist asked an awkward question.
- feel awkward
- I felt awkward about asking for money.
- awkward position
- The delay put us in an awkward position.
Synonyms and how they differ
- uncomfortable
- Uncomfortable covers any unease, while awkward is more about social embarrassment or clumsiness.
- clumsy
- Clumsy describes a lack of physical skill and does not cover social situations.
- embarrassing
- Embarrassing focuses on shame caused by an event, whereas awkward is wider.
- cumbersome
- Cumbersome is only for things that are heavy or bulky to handle.
Opposites
Word family
- awkwardly adverb
- in an uncomfortable or clumsy way
- awkwardness noun
- the state of being awkward
Commonly confused: awkward or clumsy?
awkward vs clumsy
Clumsy describes lack of physical skill, while awkward also covers social discomfort and hard-to-handle things.
Practice
There was an ____ pause when nobody knew what to say next.
Choose one answer.
Awkward describes an uncomfortable social silence. Awful is too strong and general, and obvious and adequate do not fit a pause.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “awkward”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.