Use awkward for movement, performance, writing, or design that lacks natural ease. For a person, it can sound mildly critical, so clumsy or inexperienced may be kinder when the fault is only skill.
Use awkward for movement, performance, writing, or design that lacks natural ease. For a person, it can sound mildly critical, so clumsy or inexperienced may be kinder when the fault is only skill.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| He moved awkward in the room. | He moved awkwardly in the room. |
| She made an awkwardly gesture. | She made an awkward gesture. |
| The sentence sounds awkwardly. | The sentence sounds awkward. |
Use awkward for objects, spaces, controls, loads, and arrangements that are inconvenient rather than simply heavy or impossible. It often pairs with to use, to carry, to reach, and to fit.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| The box is awkward because it weighs five kilos. | The box is awkward to carry because it is so wide. |
| This app is awkward for use. | This app is awkward to use. |
| The shelf is awkward for reach. | The shelf is awkward to reach. |
Use awkward for questions, negotiations, timing, and positions that are hard to manage politely or safely. In formal writing, delicate, sensitive, or difficult may sound more precise.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| The test was very awkward. | The test was very difficult. |
| She made me an awkward question about the budget. | She asked me an awkward question about the budget. |
| It is awkward to solve this equation. | It is difficult to solve this equation. |
Awkward is common in everyday English and works for bodies, objects, wording, timing, and social situations. Choose a sharper word when the context needs it, such as clumsy for movement, embarrassing for shame, unwieldy for objects, or delicate for sensitive issues.
He moved awkward needs the adverb awkwardly, while he felt awkward uses the adjective correctly. The word is broad, so overusing it where difficult, embarrassed, or clumsy is more exact can blur the meaning.
From Middle English awkeward, originally meaning turned the wrong way or in the wrong direction. It combines awk, from Old Norse ǫfugr, meaning turned backward or wrong, with the directional suffix -ward. The older physical idea of being turned the wrong way broadened into clumsiness, inconvenience, and social discomfort.
What does awkward mean?
It means lacking ease, grace, or comfort, either physically, socially, practically, or in a difficult situation.
Is awkward always negative?
It is usually mildly negative, but it can be gentle or humorous rather than harsh.
What is the difference between awkward and clumsy?
Clumsy mainly points to poor movement or handling. Awkward is broader and can describe social discomfort, bad timing, inconvenient design, or delicate problems.
Can a person be awkward?
Yes. A person can be socially awkward, physically awkward, or awkward at a skill, but the wording can sound critical.
Can a situation be awkward?
Yes. An awkward situation is uncomfortable, embarrassing, difficult to manage, or in need of tact.
Is it awkward or awkwardly?
Use awkward as an adjective after linking verbs or before nouns, as in "felt awkward" or "an awkward pause". Use awkwardly as an adverb, as in "moved awkwardly".
Where does awkward come from?
It comes from Middle English and Old Norse roots connected with being turned backward or the wrong way.
Socially uncomfortable or embarrassing
Usage
Use awkward for silences, meetings, apologies, introductions, and moments when people do not know how to behave. Embarrassing is stronger when shame is the main feeling.
Examples
Common mistakes
Similar words