awkward 
awk·ward (ôk′wərd)
adjective
- not having grace or skill; clumsy, as in form or movement; bungling an awkward dancer, an awkward style
- inconvenient to use; hard to handle; unwieldy an awkward tool
- inconvenient; uncomfortable; cramped an awkward position
- showing or resulting from lack of social poise; embarrassed or embarrassing an awkward remark
- not easy to deal with; delicate an awkward situation
- Obsolete perverse or untoward
Etymology: ME aukward < ON ǫfugr, turned backward + OE -weard, -ward
awkward
modif.
Unskillful
clumsy, inept, maladroit, ungainly, uncoordinated, gawky, ungraceful, unskillful, bungling, fumbling, floundering, stumbling, lacking dexterity, inexpert, unskilled, unhandy, unpolished, gauche, stiff, graceless, bumbling, blundering, uncouth, inexperienced, incompetent, rusty, unused to, green, amateurish, butterfingered*, all thumbs*, cloddish*, clodhopping*, botchy*, with two left feet*, left-handed*, hamhanded*, klutzy*. Inconvenient
unwieldy, cumbersome, ponderous, inconvenient, incommodious, disagreeable, cramped; see also heavy 1, uncomfortable 2.Embarrassing
inconvenient, inopportune, touchy, delicate; see embarrassing.Uncomfortable
ill at ease, embarrassed, out of place, self-conscious; see ashamed, uncomfortable 1.
awkward implies unfitness for smooth, easy functioning and has the broadest application of the terms here, suggesting ungracefulness, unwieldiness, inconvenience or embarrassment an awkward dancer, implement, step, position, silence; clumsy, emphasizing stiffness or bulkiness, suggests a lack of flexibility, dexterity, or adroitness, unwieldiness or tactlessness a clumsy build, clumsy galoshes, a clumsy apology; maladroit and inept both imply tactlessness in social relations, maladroit often emphasizing this as a tendency and inept stressing inappropriateness of a particular act or remark inept praise; ineptcan also refer to general lack of skill or competence
Modifying Another Word
- socially: That's a long time to be watching two socially awkward individuals sitting with their faces cupped in their hands.
- slightly: Also, she's standing in a slightly awkward position, putting her weight on her knees.
- rather: A rather awkward movement is made to get out of the chimney on to the pinnacle.
- somewhat: Then in a somewhat awkward manner the little pup began hobbling toward the others, doing its best to catch up... .
- potentially: Blocking and lighting design combined to create haunting tableaux that made a virtue of the Playroom's potentially awkward rhomboid space.
- deliberately: It is not possible for a baby to be deliberately awkward.
Infinitive complement
- handle: These engines were entirely unsuited to the work, they slipped a lot, had open cabs and were awkward to handle for shunting.
- carry: Yes * No * Is it awkward to carry when full?
- fit: It can be awkward to fit two steps comfortably between the gaps in the rails.
Modifies a noun
- squad: Being unaware of the weaknesses of the awkward squad is hardly an argument to throw at the SWP.
- pause: There was an awkward pause, a dreary pause, a horrible pause.
- silence: Things hung for a moment in an awkward silence.
- posture: Manual Handling includes lifting, twisting, bending and awkward body postures.
- gait: Parents or teachers may notice an abnormal turning in of the foot, an awkward gait or contractions of many different muscle groups.
- squeeze: To be perfectly honest, I didn't actually think we would get beyond the awkward calcite squeeze near the entrance.
Used with adjective complement
- feel: Some friends may feel awkward about talking to you.
- prove: The Sonicare has a plastic " guard " on it which can prove awkward at the back of the mouth.
- seem: In fact, this bullying man seems really rather awkward in his dealings with women.
- appear: The very anxious person can appear awkward, and even rude, in social situations.
- look: No, " he replied, looking suddenly more awkward than his usual uncomfortable country self.
I'm just an awkward old maid with a very great affection for men.
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