gawkier; gawkiest
: awkward, clumsy
a gawky adolescent
gawkily adverb
gawkiness noun
gawky noun

Examples of gawky in a Sentence

the stiff, gawky gait of a newborn colt
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Crenshaw made fun of Davidson’s gawky stature and then called for respect for all veterans as well as first responders in the 9/11 attacks — one of whom was Davidson’s father. Brian Steinberg, Variety, 19 Sep. 2025 Pedrad made history as the first Iranian American castmember on Saturday Night Live, before bending age and gender to play a gawky 14-year-old Persian American boy in the coming-of-age sitcom Chad. Dan Bilefsky, HollywoodReporter, 25 July 2025 Agnes has a gawky, floppy-haired beauty, a gently appraising stare, quizzically arching eyebrows, and a tendency to listen with her mouth half open, as if in anticipation of a punch line that will take her, and us, by surprise. Justin Chang, New Yorker, 20 June 2025 Hiccup, played this time with game and gawky charm by Mason Thames, has been raised to think the only solution to violence is more violence. Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for gawky

Word History

Etymology

gawk entry 1 + -y entry 1

First Known Use

1759, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gawky was in 1759

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gawky.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gawky. Accessed 24 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

gawky

adjective
gawkier; gawkiest
gawkily adverb
gawkiness
-kē-nəs
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on gawky

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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