1
as in uncomfortable
lacking social grace and assurance
preteens feeling awkward at their first formal dance
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in clumsy
showing or marked by a lack of skill and tact (as in dealing with a situation)
her awkward handling of the seating arrangements at the wedding reception resulted in many hurt feelings
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in embarrassing
causing embarrassment
the awkward situation of having to listen as your host and hostess quarrel loudly in the next room
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in annoying
causing difficulty, discomfort, or annoyance
our surprise guests came at a very awkward time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in cumbersome
difficult to use or operate especially because of size, weight, or design
that manual can opener is awkward to hold
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in unsteady
having or showing an inability to move in a graceful manner
an awkward person who is always tripping over herself
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in unhandy
lacking or showing a lack of nimbleness in using one's hands
an awkward catch of a fly ball
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of awkward
The last thing anyone wants is an umbrella that’s difficult to open, awkward to adjust, or faded by the end of the season.
—
Blake Bakkila,
Architectural Digest,
30 June 2026
In conversation, Friedland is rapaciously curious, if slightly disorganized, prone to tangents that lead to a candidness that can verge on cringe or awkward.
—
Jeff Ihaza,
Rolling Stone,
29 June 2026
Expansion battery integration also proved cleaner than expected, with flatter, easier-to-manage expansion cables that avoid some of the awkward cable clutter commonly associated with scalable backup ecosystems.
—
Michael Lydick,
PC Magazine,
29 June 2026
The awards come at an awkward moment for the Kennedy Center, long one of the few relatively nonpartisan institutions in Washington.
—
Steven Sloan,
Chicago Tribune,
28 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for awkward
Blake Bakkila,
Architectural Digest,
30 June 2026
In conversation, Friedland is rapaciously curious, if slightly disorganized, prone to tangents that lead to a candidness that can verge on cringe or awkward.
—
Jeff Ihaza,
Rolling Stone,
29 June 2026
Expansion battery integration also proved cleaner than expected, with flatter, easier-to-manage expansion cables that avoid some of the awkward cable clutter commonly associated with scalable backup ecosystems.
—
Michael Lydick,
PC Magazine,
29 June 2026
The awards come at an awkward moment for the Kennedy Center, long one of the few relatively nonpartisan institutions in Washington.
—
Steven Sloan,
Chicago Tribune,
28 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for awkward
Recent Examples of Synonyms for awkward
Adjective
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Runcie is sharply attuned to the vast uncomfortable grey areas of gender and power relations, navigating them with wry, revelatory observations that are devastatingly acute.
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That observation carries an uncomfortable implication for executives.
Adjective
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Such a feature would neatly get around the need for clumsy remote control sessions to interact with AI agents running on a distant Mac.
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The head coach was clumsy in his response, saying — in effect — that the player is better suited to being an impact substitute and taking advantage of tiring opposition defenders.
Adjective
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But goals from Harry Kane in the 75th and 86th minutes saved England from an embarrassing early exit.
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America is better when Paul Skenes is embarrassing hitters with Livvy in the stands pounding Miller Lites.
Adjective
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Scam texts are annoying for everyone.
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Others have blamed everything from feminism and long work commutes to annoying kiddy car seats.
Adjective
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Those habits feel cumbersome when a technology is evolving by the month.
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That tendency, which may have been with us since the Stone Age, today serves the interests of our cumbersome friends in the Florida Everglades.
Adjective
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Early reviews said that House of the Dragon was at the top of its game in season 3, after a periodically unsteady run before that.
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Sydney is extra unsteady and flustered.
Adjective
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The company and the government have since seemed to settle into an uneasy truce.
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But some retirees remain uneasy about security concerns, healthcare quality, and property ownership structures.
Adjective
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Over the same period, entry-level head count at the high-intensity firms rose 12%, contradicting predictions and fears that young or inexperienced workers would be most at risk of losing their jobs to AI.
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Immer and Lois work with land stewards to find projects that make sense for eager but often inexperienced volunteers.
Cite this Entry
“Awkward.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/awkward. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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