awkward synonyms

awkward

modif.

  1. 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*.

    Antonyms graceful*, dexterous*, smooth. *

  2. Inconvenient

    unwieldy, cumbersome, ponderous, inconvenient, incommodious, disagreeable, cramped; see also heavy 1, uncomfortable 2.

  3. Embarrassing

    inconvenient, inopportune, touchy, delicate; see embarrassing.

  4. 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

Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.