as in clumsiness
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Recent Examples of awkwardness
Have an honest budget conversation early to avoid awkwardness later.
—
Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 30 Mar. 2026
Still, there may be some awkwardness.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 30 Mar. 2026
This acknowledges the invitation, expresses goodwill toward the couple, and clearly communicates your decision without criticism or awkwardness.
—Jann Blackstone, Boston Herald, 29 Mar. 2026
The Dodgers can bring in new stars without risking awkwardness or outright jealousy.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
Chinese American actor Wang, however, reaffirms his leading man capabilities in a teen comedy that’s all about embracing the awkwardness of high school.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 23 Mar. 2026
Hollywood transitioned from Cary Grant's elegance to Dustin Hoffman's awkwardness.
—Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 19 Mar. 2026
Intimate relationships with real people can involve rejection, awkwardness, time and emotional labor.
—Jennifer Pollitt, The Conversation, 16 Mar. 2026
Her awkwardness made sense, though.
—Isobel Lewis, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2026
Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 30 Mar. 2026
Still, there may be some awkwardness.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 30 Mar. 2026
This acknowledges the invitation, expresses goodwill toward the couple, and clearly communicates your decision without criticism or awkwardness.
—Jann Blackstone, Boston Herald, 29 Mar. 2026
The Dodgers can bring in new stars without risking awkwardness or outright jealousy.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
Chinese American actor Wang, however, reaffirms his leading man capabilities in a teen comedy that’s all about embracing the awkwardness of high school.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 23 Mar. 2026
Hollywood transitioned from Cary Grant's elegance to Dustin Hoffman's awkwardness.
—Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 19 Mar. 2026
Intimate relationships with real people can involve rejection, awkwardness, time and emotional labor.
—Jennifer Pollitt, The Conversation, 16 Mar. 2026
Her awkwardness made sense, though.
—Isobel Lewis, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for awkwardness
Noun
-
For Perssonatti, the disease is more about fatigue, brain fog, word salad, and clumsiness.—
Pamela McLoughlin,
Hartford Courant,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The desire for more speed also demonstrated some of the internal clumsiness Weiss and her close inner circle have lamented on the technical side.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Not two years later this tower was to collapse precipitately under its own weight into a pyramid of dust and rubble, only to be rebuilt later, in, unaccountably, all its former gracelessness.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Awkwardness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/awkwardness. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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