awk|ward

awk|ward: awk|ward «K wuhrd», adjective.

1. a) not graceful or skillful in movement or shape; clumsy: »Seals are very awkward on land, but graceful in the water.
b) not done with grace or skill; unable to do or use with ease or effectiveness: »an awkward drawing of stick figures. His awkward speech made him difficult to understand.

2. not well suited to use: »The handle of this pitcher has an awkward shape.
SYNONYM(S): unhandy.

3. not easily managed; difficult to negotiate: »This is an awkward corner to turn.

4. inconvenient or embarrassing: »an awkward moment. He asked me such an awkward question that I did not know what to reply.

5. ill at ease; embarrassed: »An awkward manner makes everyone uneasy.

╂[< obsolete awk perverse(ly), in the wrong way < Scandinavian (compare Old Icelandic öfugr) + English -ward]

–awk´ward|ly, adverb.

–awk´ward|ness, noun.

Synonym Study 1a Awkward, clumsy, ungainly mean not graceful. Awkward means lacking grace, ease, quickness, and skill: »The girl is still in the awkward age. An awkward girl is no help in the kitchen.
Clumsy suggests moving heavily and stiffly: »The clumsy boy bumped into all the furniture.
Ungainly means awkward in moving one's body: »He is as ungainly as a newborn calf.

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awk´ward|ly — awk|ward «K wuhrd», adjective. 1. a) not graceful or skillful in movement or shape; clumsy: »Seals are very awkward on land, but graceful in the water. b) not done with grace or skill; unable to do or use with ease or effectiveness: »an awkward… … Useful english dictionary
awk´ward|ness — awk|ward «K wuhrd», adjective. 1. a) not graceful or skillful in movement or shape; clumsy: »Seals are very awkward on land, but graceful in the water. b) not done with grace or skill; unable to do or use with ease or effectiveness: »an awkward… … Useful english dictionary
awk·ward — … Useful english dictionary
awk — awk·ward; awk·ward·ly; awk·ward·ness; awk; … English syllables
awkward — awk·ward … English syllables
awkwardly — awk·ward·ly … English syllables
awkward — awk•ward [[t]ˈɔk wərd[/t]] adj. 1) lacking skill or dexterity; clumsy 2) lacking grace or ease, as in movement or posture: an awkward gesture[/ex] 3) lacking social graces or manners 4) ill adapted for ease of use or handling: an awkward… … From formal English to slang
awkward — awk|ward S2 [ˈo:kwəd US ˈo:kwərd] adj [Date: 1500 1600; Origin: awk turned the wrong way (15 17 centuries) (from Old Norse öfugr) + ward] 1.) making you feel embarrassed so that you are not sure what to do or say = ↑difficult ▪ I hoped he would… … Dictionary of contemporary English
awkward — awk|ward [ ɔkwərd ] adjective ** 1. ) difficult to deal with and embarrassing: After he spoke there was an awkward silence. Luckily nobody asked any awkward questions about what he was doing there. It s a little awkward, because he s my friend… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
awkwardly — awk|ward|ly [ ɔkwərdli ] adverb 1. ) in a way that shows you are not comfortable, relaxed, or confident: They smiled awkwardly at the camera. She responded awkwardly to the allegations. 2. ) with difficulty or in a way that is not graceful: He… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

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awk|ward

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