gawkier; gawkiest
Synonyms of gawky
: 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.
That's thanks in large part to Hathaway's winning turn as Mia Thermopolis, a gawky teenager who discovers that her estranged grandmother (Julie Andrews) is actually the queen of a small country. Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 5 May 2026 These were held at high schools filled with gawky kids in suits that always fit badly but never in the same way: the tie was too long, the pants or the skirt too small, the jacket was borrowed from an older sibling. Eli Durst, New Yorker, 4 May 2026 Somehow, McCarthy’s assurance makes these clichés seem new again, donning them as naturally as O’Connell’s gawky bellboy wearing an old-fashioned red cap. Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026 At the top of the hill, a bench provides a welcome moment to rest and admire the view: In the foreground, a stand of gawky, yellow goldfields with daisy-like heads. Alissa Greenberg, Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2026 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 29 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

gawky

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

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