awkward, clumsy, maladroit, inept, gauche mean not marked by ease (as of performance, movement, or social conduct). awkward is widely applicable and may suggest unhandiness, inconvenience, lack …

AWKWARD definition: lacking skill or dexterity. See examples of awkward used in a sentence.

awkward adjective (MOVEMENT) moving in a way that is not natural, relaxed, or attractive:

1. lacking skill or dexterity; clumsy. 2. lacking grace or ease, as in movement or posture: an awkward gesture. 3. lacking social graces or manners. 4. ill-adapted for ease of use or handling: an awkward …

Definition of awkward adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

Feb 24, 2026 · Not easily managed or effected; embarrassing. Synonym: recalcitrant That was an extremely awkward moment. Everyone was watching. An awkward silence had fallen.

awkward definition: lacking grace or skill in manner or movement. Check meanings, examples, usage tips, pronunciation, domains, and related words. Discover expressions like "make things awkward …

Not having grace or skill; clumsy, as in form or movement; bungling. An awkward dancer, an awkward style.

Awkward typically describes a situation or person that makes one feel uncomfortable or embarrassed due to being difficult to deal with, often marked by a lack of grace, skill, or social competence.

If you say that someone is awkward, you are critical of them because you find them unreasonable and difficult to live with or deal with.