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- DictionaryAwk·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
A
1W
4K
5W
4A
1R
1D
2
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