awkward
awkward Lexical Profile
awkward Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Causing or feeling social discomfort, embarrassment, or self-consciousness.
"There was an awkward silence in the room after he forgot the guest of honor's name."
Lacking physical grace, skill, or coordination in movement or posture; clumsy.
"The newborn foal took a few awkward steps across the barn floor before finding its balance."
Difficult to handle, use, or deal with efficiently due to shape, design, or timing; inconvenient.
"The sofa was too heavy and at an awkward angle to fit through the narrow stairwell."
British Intentionally uncooperative, stubborn, or difficult to deal with.
"The clerk was being deliberately awkward about processing our refund despite the valid receipt."
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English awk ('turned the wrong way' or 'backhanded', borrowed from Old Norse afugr) combined with the directional suffix -ward, originally meaning 'in the wrong direction' before shifting to mean 'clumsy' or 'socially uncomfortable'.