awkward
/ˈɔːkwɚd/
Awkward means lacking grace or skill, causing embarrassment, or being difficult to use or handle.
Examples
- The design of the kitchen makes it awkward to move furniture.
- The layout of the app feels awkward on a small screen.
- The chair was awkward to move around the narrow hallway.
- She tried to hide the awkward look on her face after the mistake.
- The old printer is awkward to operate.
Meanings
From Middle English awkward, from dialect awk meaning ‘backwards, perverse, clumsy’, related to Old Norse afugr ‘turned the wrong way’
Examples
- She felt awkward when she tripped over the carpet.
- His awkward gestures made the audience laugh.
- The chair was awkward to move around the narrow hallway.
- They had an awkward conversation about the mistake.
- The layout of the app feels awkward on a small screen.
From Middle English awkward, from dialect awk meaning ‘backwards, perverse, clumsy’, related to Old Norse afugr ‘turned the wrong way’
Examples
- It was an awkward moment when the lights went out during the speech.
- His comment created an awkward silence in the room.
- She tried to hide the awkward look on her face after the mistake.
- The meeting turned awkward after the unexpected accusation.
- Their awkward goodbye left everyone feeling uneasy.
From Middle English awkward, from dialect awk meaning ‘backwards, perverse, clumsy’, related to Old Norse afugr ‘turned the wrong way’
Examples
- The old printer is awkward to operate.
- She found the new software awkward and kept looking for shortcuts.
- The design of the kitchen makes it awkward to move furniture.
- His handwriting is awkward, making the notes hard to read.
- The device’s awkward shape limits where it can be placed.