awkward /ˈɔkwɚd/  adjective

  • 1 a . not graceful : Clumsy

    • She is awkward at dancing.
    • He had large feet and his walk was awkward and ungainly.
    • an awkward movement
    • The story contained some awkward writing.

    1 b . lacking skill

    • She is an awkward writer.

    2 .difficult to use or handle

    • The machine is very awkward to operate.
    • an awkward tool
    • The box isn’t heavy but it has an awkward shape and size. [=its shape and size make it difficult to carry]

    3 a . not easy to deal with

    • It was an awkward[=embarrassing] moment for everyone.
    • I often find myself in awkward situations.
    • He was put in the awkward position of having to write the memo.
    • There was an awkward pause in the conversation.

    3 b . not socially graceful or confident : uneasy or uncomfortable

    • I feel awkward(about) having to ask you to help.
    • He feels awkward with/around strangers.

    — awkwardly adverb

    • The baby was crawling awkwardly on her hands and knees.
    • He fell and landed awkwardly.
    • an awkwardly written sentence

    — awkwardness noun

    [noncount]

    • A moment of awkwardness occurred after the introduction.
    • the awkwardness of the writing

    [count]

    • There was an awkwardness between us when we last saw each other.