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Awkward: meaning, definitions and examples

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awkward

 

[ ˈɔːkwərd ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

social interaction

Lacking skill or dexterity in using one's hands. Not graceful.

Synonyms

clumsy, inept, ungainly

Examples of usage

  • She felt awkward holding the chopsticks for the first time.
  • His awkward attempt at dancing drew some laughs from the crowd.
Context #2 | Adjective

social situation

Causing or feeling embarrassment or inconvenience. Uncomfortable.

Synonyms

embarrassing, uncomfortable, unpleasant

Examples of usage

  • The awkward silence that followed her question made everyone uncomfortable.
  • It was an awkward situation when they ran into their ex at the party.

Translations

Translations of the word "awkward" in other languages:

🇵🇹 desajeitado

🇮🇳 अजीब

🇩🇪 unbeholfen

🇮🇩 canggung

🇺🇦 незграбний

🇵🇱 niezgrabny

🇯🇵 ぎこちない

🇫🇷 maladroit

🇪🇸 torpe

🇹🇷 beceriksiz

🇰🇷 어색한

🇸🇦 أخرق

🇨🇿 nemotorný

🇸🇰 nemotorný

🇨🇳 笨拙的

🇸🇮 neroden

🇮🇸 klaufalegur

🇰🇿 икемсіз

🇬🇪 უხერხული

🇦🇿 bacarıqsız

🇲🇽 torpe

Etymology

The word 'awkward' originated in Middle English from the Old Norse 'afugr' meaning 'turned the wrong way'. It first appeared in the English language in the 14th century. Over time, its meaning evolved to describe situations or actions that are clumsy, uncomfortable, or embarrassing.

Word Frequency Rank

Position #7,517 indicates this is an advanced-level word. While not essential for basic communication, it will enhance your ability to understand and create more nuanced content.