awkwardness
Use Awkwardness in a sentence
wərd adjective
1.
lacking skill or dexterity. Synonyms: clumsy, inept; unskillful, unhandy, inexpert. Antonyms: deft, adroit, skillful, dexterous; handy.
2.
3.
lacking social graces or manners: a simple, awkward frontiersman. Synonyms: gauche, unpolished, unrefined; blundering, oafish; ill-mannered, unmannerly, ill-bred. Antonyms: gracious; polite, well-mannered, well-bred; smooth, polished, refined.
4.
not well planned or designed for easy or effective use: an awkward instrument; an awkward method. Synonyms: unwieldy, cumbersome, unmanageable; inconvenient, difficult, troublesome.
5.
requiring caution; somewhat hazardous: an awkward turn in the road. Synonyms: dangerous, risky, unsafe, chancy; perilous, precarious, treacherous.
Origin:
1300–50; Middle English, equivalent to awk(e), auk(e) ‘backhanded’, Old English *afoc (< Old Norse ǫfugr ‘turned the wrong way’; cognate with Old Saxon, Old High German abuh, Old English afu(h)lic ‘wrong’, off) + -ward -ward
1300–50; Middle English, equivalent to awk(e), auk(e) ‘backhanded’, Old English *afoc (< Old Norse ǫfugr ‘turned the wrong way’; cognate with Old Saxon, Old High German abuh, Old English afu(h)lic ‘wrong’, off) + -ward -ward
Related forms
awk·ward·ly, adverb
awk·ward·ness, noun
un·awk·ward, adjective
un·awk·ward·ly, adverb
un·awk·ward·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To awkwardness
00:10
Awkwardness
is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
| a gadget; dingus; thingumbob. |
| a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
awkward (ˈɔːkwəd) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | lacking dexterity, proficiency, or skill; clumsy; inept: the new recruits were awkward in their exercises |
| 2. | ungainly or inelegant in movements or posture: despite a great deal of practice she remained an awkward dancer |
| 3. | unwieldy; difficult to use: an awkward implement |
| 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: he could help but he is being awkward |
| 8. | dangerous or difficult: an awkward ascent of the ridge |
| 9. | obsolete perverse |
| [C14 awk, from Old Norse öfugr turned the wrong way round + | |
| 'awkwardly | |
| —adv | |
| 'awkwardness | |
| —n | |
| awkward (ˈɔːkwəd) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | lacking dexterity, proficiency, or skill; clumsy; inept: the new recruits were awkward in their exercises |
| 2. | ungainly or inelegant in movements or posture: despite a great deal of practice she remained an awkward dancer |
| 3. | unwieldy; difficult to use: an awkward implement |
| 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: he could help but he is being awkward |
| 8. | dangerous or difficult: an awkward ascent of the ridge |
| 9. | obsolete perverse |
| [C14 awk, from Old Norse öfugr turned the wrong way round + | |
| 'awkwardly | |
| —adv | |
| 'awkwardness | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Cite This Source
Example sentences
The hands create a set of problems, a sense of danger, of awkwardness.
They visit his former landlady together, and for the first time some of their awkwardness begins to melt.
It signals they're okay with any awkwardness that might linger.
The history, etiquette and awkwardness of the campaign concession call.
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