English dictionary
awkward
adjectivePronunciation
ˈɔːkwəd
Audio pronunciation
Parts of speech
Definitions
adjective
- socially uncomfortable; unsure and constrained in manner
adjective
- causing inconvenience
adjective
- hard to deal with; especially causing pain or embarrassment
adjective
- not elegant or graceful in expression
adjective
- lacking grace or skill in manner or movement or performance
adjective
- difficult to handle or manage especially because of shape
Example sentences
awkward and reserved at parties
ill at ease among eddies of people he didn't know
was always uneasy with strangers
they arrived at an awkward time
awkward (or embarrassing or difficult) moments in the discussion
an awkward pause followed his remark
a sticky question
in the unenviable position of resorting to an act he had planned to save for the climax of the campaign
an awkward prose style
a clumsy apology
his cumbersome writing style
if the rumor is true, can anything be more inept than to repeat it now?
an awkward dancer
an awkward gesture
too awkward with a needle to make her own clothes
his clumsy fingers produced an awkward knot
an awkward bundle to carry
a load of bunglesome paraphernalia
clumsy wooden shoes
the cello, a rather ungainly instrument for a girl