awkward

From awk (“odd, clumsy”) +‎ -ward.^[1] Compare Middle English aukeward (“in the wrong direction”).

• (UK)
  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈɔːkwəd/
  • (Northumbria) IPA^(key): /ˈaːkwɐd/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈɔkwɚd/
• (cot–caught merger) IPA^(key): /ˈɑkwɚd/

• Audio (US):

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• Audio (US, cot–caught merger):

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• (General Australian) IPA^(key): /ˈoːkwəd/

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

• Hyphenation: awk‧ward

awkward (comparative more awkward, superlative most awkward)

1. Lacking dexterity in the use of the hands, or of instruments.

   Synonyms: clumsy, lubberly, ungraceful, unhandy, gawky

   Antonyms: dexterous, gainly, graceful, handy, skillful

   John was awkward at performing the trick. He'll have to practice to improve.

2. Not easily managed or effected; embarrassing.

   Synonym: recalcitrant

   That was an extremely awkward moment. Everyone was watching.

   An awkward silence had fallen.

3. Lacking social skills, or uncomfortable with social interaction.

   Synonyms: maladroit, gauche

   Antonyms: amiable, cool

   I'm very awkward at parties.

   Things got awkward when my boss tried a cheesy pick-up line on me.

4. Perverse; adverse; difficult to handle.

   He's a right awkward chap.

   These cabinets are going to be very awkward when we move.

   • 2020 August 26, Andrew Mourant, “Reinforced against future flooding”, in Rail, page 61:

     Clearing up rock and fallen vegetation at such an awkward site required a team of specialist geoengineers.

awkward (plural awkwards)

1. Someone or something that is awkward.
   • 1912, Eliza Ripley, Social Life in Old New Orleans, Being Recollections of My Girlhood, New York, N.Y.; London: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC:

     Another important branch of deportment was to seat the awkwards stiffly on the extreme edge of a chair, fold the hands on the very precarious lap, droop the eyes in a pensive way.

   • 1998, Leo Marks, Between Silk and Cyanide: The Story of SOE's Code War, London: HarperCollins, →ISBN:

     'What periods are you talking about?' / 'The monthly awkwards. Didn't the girls at Molyneux have them when you were managing director?' / The Rabbit leaned forward, sniffing the air in the immediate vicinity. 'Either you've been drinking or you've got some girl into trouble. Or am I being unfair to you and it's both?'

   • 2014, Grace Helbig, Grace's Guide: The Art of Pretending to Be a Grown-up, New York, N.Y.: Touchstone Books, Simon & Schuster, →ISBN, page 76:

     That is a way to make awkwards. And it's not fun to hang out with awkwards more than once.