Awkward is an English word with synonyms like clumsy or ungainly. Below you'll find 10+ example sentences showing how it's used in practice.
Awkward meaning
- Lacking dexterity in the use of the hands, or of instruments.
- Not easily managed or effected; embarrassing.
- Lacking social skills, or uncomfortable with social interaction.
Synonyms of Awkward
Using Awkward
- The main meaning on this page is: Lacking dexterity in the use of the hands, or of instruments. | Not easily managed or effected; embarrassing. | Lacking social skills, or uncomfortable with social interaction.
- Useful related words include: clumsy, ungainly, unwieldy, ugly.
- In the example corpus, awkward often appears in combinations such as: an awkward, the awkward, awkward and.
Context around Awkward
- Average sentence length in these examples: 27.4 words
- Position in the sentence: 4 start, 12 middle, 4 end
- Sentence types: 20 statements, 0 questions, 0 exclamations
Corpus analysis for Awkward
- In this selection, "awkward" usually appears in the middle of the sentence. The average example has 27.4 words, and this corpus slice is mostly made up of statements.
- Around the word, professional, bit, less, moment, man and woman stand out and add context to how "awkward" is used.
- Recognizable usage signals include a bit awkward but it and a few awkward minutes in. That gives this page its own corpus information beyond isolated example sentences.
- By corpus frequency, "awkward" sits close to words such as carol, denying and enrolled, which helps place it inside the broader word index.
Example types with awkward
The same corpus examples are grouped by length and sentence type, making it easier to see the contexts in which the word appears:
After the always awkward initial smalltalk, we get straight into business. (11 words)
The film also features professional awkward man John Paul Reynolds and professional awkward woman Molly Shannon. (16 words)
Also, you will be going through the awkward teenage phase of not being able to dress right. (17 words)
An unlikely friendship with a pregnant woman named Marisol forces him out of the shell he's built to contain the grief from losing his wife, and slowly offers him a reason to connect with A Man Called Otto's in a painful, awkward, and often hilarious way. (48 words)
But according to Scott Meslow's "From Hollywood with Love: The Rise and Fall (and Rise Again) of the Romantic Comedy," Ephron and Reiner's first meeting was not unlike Harry and Sally's — a little awkward, and initially, a little mismatched. (42 words)
Awkward pauses in conversation might be a little less awkward while ambling side by side (rather than sitting across from each other at a table, as the distance between what was said and what might possibly be said next grows longer). (41 words)
Example sentences (20)
She said the awkward moment was actually one that was earnest and heartfelt -- and still a bit awkward -- but it came from a place of love and from Luis seeking approval from Joe.
The film also features professional awkward man John Paul Reynolds and professional awkward woman Molly Shannon.
And then there’s the seven-part plan for Shadow of the Tomb Raider, an awkward game that is now getting some awkward expansions.
Awkward pauses in conversation might be a little less awkward while ambling side by side (rather than sitting across from each other at a table, as the distance between what was said and what might possibly be said next grows longer).
After one jailer asked for proof, Brock said, he spent a few awkward minutes in a bathroom showing her his genitalia and explaining the effects of testosterone.
After the always awkward initial smalltalk, we get straight into business.
A lot of people claimed to have noticed something awkward about the video and commended the singer for putting safety first.
Also, you will be going through the awkward teenage phase of not being able to dress right.
And it’s like, we’re standing at the party, and it’s over, and the lights are on, and it’s sort of awkward.
And what Jackson and his writers filled the extra space with makes for a tonally and thematically awkward experience.
An unlikely friendship with a pregnant woman named Marisol forces him out of the shell he's built to contain the grief from losing his wife, and slowly offers him a reason to connect with A Man Called Otto's in a painful, awkward, and often hilarious way.
A seemingly awkward exchange becomes hilarious when they both realize that the other is just joking around.
As unimportant as this is to the plot (and as awkward of an element as it is in the ), it gives a lot of depth to Sam's character, and to Hobbits in general.
At the first time, many may feel awkward, excited, confused, or a combination of all those feelings and more.
Back in May, Kim had an awkward run-in with her ex, Kanye West, at their son Saint's soccer game outside of Los Angeles.
Bangladesh’s main finger-spinners, Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Shakib, took six wickets for only 55 runs, while the quicks hit the pitch hard and created awkward angles with pace variations and clever use of crease.
Based on the graphic novel series, the 2010 movie centered on awkward Scott’s attempts to defeat the Seven Evil Exes of his love, Ramona Flowers.
Bolton have been among the League One pacesetters since the start of the season, Exeter were awkward opponents on a filthy night and Port Vale were revved up for the biggest night in the club's history.
Bringing the title character from the comic page to the anime screen, Cera voices Scott Pilgrim, the awkward slacker willing to do anything for the love of Ramona Flowers.
But according to Scott Meslow's "From Hollywood with Love: The Rise and Fall (and Rise Again) of the Romantic Comedy," Ephron and Reiner's first meeting was not unlike Harry and Sally's — a little awkward, and initially, a little mismatched.
Common combinations with awkward
These word pairs occur most frequently in English texts:
- an awkward 37×
- the awkward 15×
- awkward and 10×
- and awkward 9×
- awkward moment 8×
- some awkward 7×
- awkward to 6×
- was awkward 6×
- awkward encounter 5×
- bit awkward 4×