awkward

UK: /ˈɔːkwə^rd/ US: /ˈɔkwɚd/ ,(ôk′wərd)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

awk•ward /ˈɔkwɚd/   adj. 

1. clumsy;
   not having much skill:
   an awkward dancer.
2. lacking grace or ease, as in movement or posture:
   took an awkward swing at the ball.
3. lacking social graces or manners:
   always feels awkward at office parties.
4. difficult to use or handle:
   an awkward tool.
5. requiring skill or tact;
   difficult:
   an awkward situation.

awk•ward•ly, adv. 
awk•ward•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

awk•ward  (ôk′wərd), adj. 

1. lacking skill or dexterity;
   clumsy.
2. lacking grace or ease in movement:
   an awkward gesture; an awkward dancer.
3. lacking social graces or manners:
   a simple, awkward frontiersman.
4. not well planned or designed for easy or effective use:
   an awkward instrument; an awkward method.
5. requiring caution;
   somewhat hazardous;
   dangerous:
   an awkward turn in the road.
6. hard to deal with;
   difficult;
   requiring skill, tact, or the like:
   an awkward situation; an awkward customer.
7. embarrassing or inconvenient;
   caused by lack of social grace:
   an awkward moment
8. [Obs.] untoward;
   perverse.

• Old Norse ǫfugr turned the wrong way; cognate with Old Saxon, Old High German abuh, Old English afu(h)lic wrong, off) + -ward -ward
• Middle English, equivalent. to awk(e), auk(e) backhanded, Old English *afoc (1300–50

awk′ward•ly, adv. 
awk′ward•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. unskillful, unhandy, inexpert.

Antonyms

• 1. deft, adroit.
• 2. graceful.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

awkward / ˈɔːkwəd/ adjective

1. lacking dexterity, proficiency, or skill; clumsy; inept
2. ungainly or inelegant in movements or posture
3. unwieldy; difficult to use
4. embarrassing: an awkward moment
5. embarrassed: he felt awkward about leaving
6. difficult to deal with; requiring tact: an awkward situation, an awkward customer
7. deliberately uncooperative or unhelpful
8. dangerous or difficult

Etymology: 14th Century awk, from Old Norse öfugr turned the wrong way round + -ward

ˈawkwardly adverb

ˈawkwardness noun