1
as in clumsily
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2
as in ungracefully
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Recent Examples of awkwardly
When wealthy velvet magnate Edgar Linton (Shazad Latif) moves in next door, at opulent Thrushcross Grange, Cathy awkwardly introduces herself, Edgar becomes smitten and his young ward Isabella (Alison Oliver) loves having a new girl friend.
—
Brian Truitt, USA Today, 10 Feb. 2026
The film is largely forgotten today, a minor effort awkwardly lodged between the grit of New Hollywood, on one side, and the schlocky flash-bang blockbusters of the eighties, on the other.
—Alexander Nazaryan, New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2026
Vonn lost control within moments of leaving the start house, clipping a gate with her right shoulder and pinwheeling down the slope before ending up awkwardly on her back, her skis crisscrossed below her and her screams ringing out soon after medical personnel arrived.
—Andrew Dampf, Arkansas Online, 9 Feb. 2026
Riq Woolen’s goggles fit awkwardly on his head because of the dreadlocks.
—Michael-Shawn Dugar, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Vonn lost control within moments of leaving the start house, clipping a gate with her right shoulder and pinwheeling down the slope before ending up awkwardly on her back, her skis crisscrossed below her and her screams ringing out soon after medical personnel arrived.
—Andrew Dampf, Chicago Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026
Vonn tried to twist and regain her balance in mid-air but landed awkwardly with her skis perpendicular to the fall line, ensuring a brutal fall.
—Andrew Dampf, Denver Post, 8 Feb. 2026
She could be seen grimacing after making a small error during her performance, landing awkwardly off a spinning double axel.
—Brian Mann, NPR, 7 Feb. 2026
Emma spotted his brother first, then sprinted at him, arms outstretched, into a waist-high bear hug that Yoneifer – now a mature 9 – returned awkwardly, half-smiling.
—Maeva Bambuck, CNN Money, 1 Feb. 2026
Brian Truitt, USA Today, 10 Feb. 2026
The film is largely forgotten today, a minor effort awkwardly lodged between the grit of New Hollywood, on one side, and the schlocky flash-bang blockbusters of the eighties, on the other.
—Alexander Nazaryan, New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2026
Vonn lost control within moments of leaving the start house, clipping a gate with her right shoulder and pinwheeling down the slope before ending up awkwardly on her back, her skis crisscrossed below her and her screams ringing out soon after medical personnel arrived.
—Andrew Dampf, Arkansas Online, 9 Feb. 2026
Riq Woolen’s goggles fit awkwardly on his head because of the dreadlocks.
—Michael-Shawn Dugar, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Vonn lost control within moments of leaving the start house, clipping a gate with her right shoulder and pinwheeling down the slope before ending up awkwardly on her back, her skis crisscrossed below her and her screams ringing out soon after medical personnel arrived.
—Andrew Dampf, Chicago Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026
Vonn tried to twist and regain her balance in mid-air but landed awkwardly with her skis perpendicular to the fall line, ensuring a brutal fall.
—Andrew Dampf, Denver Post, 8 Feb. 2026
She could be seen grimacing after making a small error during her performance, landing awkwardly off a spinning double axel.
—Brian Mann, NPR, 7 Feb. 2026
Emma spotted his brother first, then sprinted at him, arms outstretched, into a waist-high bear hug that Yoneifer – now a mature 9 – returned awkwardly, half-smiling.
—Maeva Bambuck, CNN Money, 1 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for awkwardly
Adverb
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Straight and gay pornography was aired, albeit clumsily censored by the network.—
Vikram Murthi,
IndieWire,
24 Jan. 2026
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Then a new entity clumsily named Netflix intruded with its quantum equation.—
Peter Bart,
Deadline,
18 Dec. 2025
Adverb
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Dancing the Poznan really ineptly, mind you, but dancing nonetheless.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
8 Sep. 2025
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Somehow this ineptly plotted affair lured Keke Palmer into its lair and her comedy chops all but gets handcuffed by an illogical, unfunny screenplay.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
15 Aug. 2025
Adverb
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But at this point, unfortunately, we’re used to it.—
Kate Aurthur,
Variety,
8 Feb. 2026
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The best ones, which unfortunately are almost impossible to find, are made with synthetic oils, and are not film formers like paint.—
Tim Carter,
Hartford Courant,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Awkwardly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/awkwardly. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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