awkward
awkward — adjective
1. hard to use, carry, or manage because of shape, position, or the care needed
hard to use, carry, or manage because of shape, position, or the care needed
The sofa was awkward to carry up the narrow stairs.
awkward to + verb
Because the tap sat behind the pipe, it was awkward to reach.
awkward to reach because of position
At the corner desk, Mina typed at an awkward angle all morning.
collocation: awkward angle
The heavy cake box looked small, but it was awkward to hold.
With wet gloves on, the tiny camera buttons became awkward to use.
- awkward angle
- awkward size
- awkward shape
- awkward to carry
- awkward to use
- difficult
is broader and can describe any hard task, not only handling problems
- tricky
often suggests one small wrong move may cause trouble
- cumbersome
stresses size or weight that makes something slow to manage
- unwieldy
is stronger and more formal for things hard to control because of shape or size
- easy
is the broad opposite for tasks with no special difficulty
- handy
suggests something is convenient and simple to use
- manageable
focuses on being possible to handle without much trouble
Grammar Patterns
awkward to use
awkward to carry
awkward to reach
at an awkward angle
Usage Note
Often used when the physical setup creates the problem, not simply when something is mentally hard. Distinguish from adjective/5, which focuses on a person's movement or posture rather than the task or object.
Common Mistakes
2. creating a situation that feels uncomfortable, inconvenient, or likely to embarr
creating a situation that feels uncomfortable, inconvenient, or likely to embarrass people
After Nora mentioned the divorce, an awkward silence filled the car.
collocation: awkward silence
The double cake surprise made the welcome party awkward.
make + event + awkward
During lunch, Sam asked an awkward question about Tina's salary.
collocation: awkward question
The lost key made things awkward for everyone waiting outside.
At six o'clock, the meeting ended at an awkward time for parents.
collocation: awkward time
- awkward silence
- awkward moment
- awkward question
- awkward time
- awkward situation
- embarrassing
focuses more directly on shame or loss of face
- uncomfortable
is broader and may describe physical or emotional unease
- delicate
suggests a situation needs care because it may upset people
- inconvenient
fits timing or arrangements better than social moments
- smooth
suggests that events happen without problems or tension
- comfortable
focuses on ease and lack of social strain
- convenient
is the best opposite when time or arrangement is the issue
Grammar Patterns
awkward silence
awkward question
awkward moment
awkward time
Usage Note
Usually describes a moment, question, silence, or arrangement rather than a person's inner feeling. Distinguish from adjective/3, which is about feeling awkward yourself.
Common Mistakes
3. feeling unsure or nervous, especially because you do not know how to act with ot
feeling unsure or nervous, especially because you do not know how to act with other people
At the party, Leo felt awkward around his ex-girlfriend's new boyfriend.
feel awkward around + person
In the video call, Ava sounded awkward with her new teammates.
awkward with + people
When the manager praised him, Ben grew awkward and changed the subject.
grow awkward after a social moment
At dinner with strangers, Nora stayed awkward until her cousin arrived.
Even after months abroad, Jun was awkward with public hugs.
- feel awkward
- look awkward
- awkward around strangers
- awkward with people
- awkward about compliments
- uneasy
suggests discomfort but not always social embarrassment
- self-conscious
stresses being too aware of yourself and how others see you
- shy
can be a more general personality trait, not only a momentary feeling
- uncomfortable
is broader and may describe physical feelings as well
Grammar Patterns
feel awkward around someone
feel awkward about something
look awkward with strangers
be awkward with people
Usage Note
Common after feel, look, sound, or become. Often followed by with, around, or about to show who or what causes the unease. Distinguish from adjective/2, where the event itself is awkward.
Common Mistakes
4. deliberately making things harder by refusing to help, agree, or act in a simple
deliberately making things harder by refusing to help, agree, or act in a simple way
Tom was awkward and would not lend us the ladder.
be awkward and refuse help
Don't be awkward and refuse to text Dad your address again.
informal command: don't be awkward
Over ten dollars, the taxi driver got awkward and refused card payment.
get awkward over + issue
The landlord stayed awkward about the broken heater for three weeks.
Instead of saying yes, the seller became awkward over the pickup time.
- be awkward about money
- be awkward over details
- don't be awkward
- an awkward customer
- uncooperative
is the clearest neutral equivalent
- difficult
is broader and may describe behavior, not only refusal to help
- obstructive
sounds more formal and suggests active resistance
- stubborn
focuses on refusing to change your mind, not always on blocking help
- helpful
means willing to make things easier
- cooperative
shows readiness to work with others
- reasonable
suggests acting in a fair and practical way
Grammar Patterns
be awkward about something
get awkward over something
don't be awkward
Usage Note
Mostly heard in everyday spoken English when someone could easily help or agree but chooses not to. Often followed by about or over to name the point of disagreement.
Common Mistakes
5. moving or holding your body in a stiff, unrelaxed, or unattractive way
moving or holding your body in a stiff, unrelaxed, or unattractive way
After the ankle injury, Rosa walked with an awkward step.
awkward + movement noun
In the school play, Evan looked awkward in the robot costume.
look awkward in movement or posture
For a moment, the baby giraffe stood on awkward legs.
With skis on for the first time, Mia felt awkward on the snow.
feel awkward while learning movement
During the photo shoot, the dancers made a few awkward turns.
- awkward step
- awkward movement
- awkward posture
- awkward turn
- awkward landing
Grammar Patterns
awkward step
awkward movement
look awkward
feel awkward on skates
Usage Note
Usually describes a walk, posture, turn, or body position. Unlike adjective/1, the focus is not on handling an object but on the way a person or animal moves or looks while moving.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- awkwardlyadverbB2
- awkwardnessnounC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: adjective/1
For adjective/1, awkward is useful when a task or object is hard to handle because of shape, size, position, or the amount of care needed. Difficult is the broad everyday word and can describe any hard task, including ideas and exams. Tricky often suggests a smaller problem where one wrong move can cause trouble. Cumbersome stresses that something is large, heavy, or slow to manage. Unwieldy is stronger and more formal, and it often suggests poor control because the thing is long, big, or badly shaped. So a tax form may be difficult or tricky, but a sofa on a narrow staircase is awkward. A large camera bag can be cumbersome, while a long ladder in wind may feel unwieldy.
Common collocations
Adverbs
- very awkward
- rather awkward
- slightly awkward
Phrases
- seem awkward
- look awkward
Etymology
Awkward comes from Middle English awkeward, which first meant something like "turned the wrong way." The first part is related to an older Scandinavian word meaning backward or reversed, and the ending is the same -ward seen in words about direction. From that idea of being the wrong way round, English later developed the modern senses of being hard to handle, clumsy in movement, or socially uncomfortable.