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   Awk·ward

   /ˈôkwərd/

   

   adjective

   • 1. causing difficulty; hard to do or deal with: "some awkward questions" Similar difficulttrickyinformal:fiddlycumbersomeunwieldyunhandyinformal:a devila bastardvulgar slang:a buggerrare:cumbrouslumbersomeinconvenientdifficultinappropriateinopportuneunfortunatearchaic:unseasonableOpposite easystraightforwardconvenient
   • ▪ deliberately unreasonable or uncooperative: "you're being damned awkward!" Similar unreasonableuncooperativeunhelpfuldifficultannoyingobstructiveunaccommodatingrefractorydisobligingcontraryperversetiresomeexasperatingtryingstubbornobstinatethrawninformal:cussedpeskybloody-mindedbolshiebalkyarchaic:contumaciousfrowardrare:renitentpervicaciousOpposite amenablecooperative
   • 2. causing or feeling embarrassment or inconvenience: "you have put me in a very awkward position" Similar embarrassinguncomfortableunpleasantdelicateticklishtrickysensitiveproblematicproblematicaltroublesomeperplexingthornyvexatioushumiliatingcompromisinginformal:stickydiceyhairycringeworthycringe-makingdodgygnarlyembarrassedself-consciousuncomfortableill at easeuneasytensenervousedgyunrelaxedstrainedrare:unquietOpposite relaxedat ease
   • 3. not smooth or graceful; ungainly: "Luther's awkward movements impeded his progress" Similar clumsyungainlyuncoordinatedmaladroitgracelessungracefulineptinelegantunskillfulunhandyall thumbsgauchegawkyganglingblunderinglumberingcloddishwoodenstiffcoltishall fingers and thumbsinformal:clodhoppingham-fistedham-handedwith two left feetcack-handedarchaic:lubberlyOpposite gracefuladroit
   • ▪ uncomfortable or abnormal: "make sure the baby isn't sleeping in an awkward position"

   Word Origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘the wrong way round, upside down’): from dialect awk ‘backwards, perverse, clumsy’ (from Old Norse afugr ‘turned the wrong way’) + -ward.

   Scrabble Points: 18

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