awkward

Meanings

• Adjective

  Feeling or causing embarrassment, inconvenience, or unease.

  - "The awkward silence in the room made everyone uncomfortable."
  - "His awkward behavior made it difficult for him to make friends."
  - "She felt awkward wearing a formal dress to the casual party."

• Adjective

  Unused to or lacking skill or ease in doing something.

  - "He was an awkward learner when it came to playing the piano."
  - "Her awkward handling of the situation made things worse."
  - "The new employee was awkward with the company's software."

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Pronunciation

1. 
   
   
   
   Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=75729705"
2. /ˈɔkwɚd/
   
   
   
   Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=27358038"

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Antonyms

amiable , cool , dexterous , gainly , graceful , handy , skillful

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Synonyms

clumsy , lubberly , ungraceful , unhandy , maladroit

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Rhymes

Words rhyming with awkward
bizarre , precarious , jamboree , larceny , sarcasm , bazaar

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Variants

List of all variants of awkward that leads to same result
awkward , awkwarder , awkwardest , awkwardly , awkwardness , awkwardnesses

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Forms

Different forms of the word (e.g., verb conjugations, plural forms, comparative/superlative forms for adjectives).

awkwardly, awkwardness

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Etymology

origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

Old English ecgweorðig, from ecg meaning 'corner' or 'hollow' and weorðig meaning 'worthy' or 'respectable'. The modern sense of 'awkward' developed from the Old English meaning 'clumsy' or 'unhandy'.

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Trivia

Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

1. The word 'awkward' has been used in the titles of several books and movies, including 'Awkward' (a TV show) and 'Awkward Situations for Women' (a self-help book).

2. In the Harry Potter series, the character Neville Longbottom is often described as awkward, both in his movements and in his social interactions.

3. In the video game 'Minecraft', the term 'awkward' is used to describe certain items or actions that are inconvenient or difficult to use.

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Related Concepts

informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

1. Discomfort: A feeling of unease or distress, often caused by awkward situations or behaviors.

2. Embarrassment: A feeling of shame or humiliation, often caused by awkward situations or behaviors.

3. Social anxiety: A fear or anxiety of social situations, often characterized by feelings of awkwardness or embarrassment.

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Quotes

Quotes by authors and personalities

1. On the ground, vultures are hunched and "awkward" bundles of feathers, but in the air, where I watch them during much of the day, they are magnificent graceful soarers.

   - {it}Words From the Land{/it}, Stephen Trimble, editor,1988

2. Greene must have known that such men would not spill the beans about his irregular life or ask "awkward" questions, though Burgess famously teased him for being … a poseur, and was banished.

   - Paul Theroux,{it}New York Times Book Review{/it},17 Oct. 2004

3. I was electrified by what I learned in college. Still socially "awkward", I had the bad habit of stopping strangers in the street to pour my heart out about the latest marvel I had learned.

   - Jaron Lanier,{it}Curious Minds{/it},(2004) 2005

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Culture

Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

In literature, 'awkward' is often used to describe characters who are socially inept or clumsy. In art, awkward poses or compositions can be used to convey a sense of discomfort or unease. In music, awkward rhythms or melodies can be used to create a sense of tension or unease.

How to Memorize "awkward"

1. visualize
   

   - Visualize yourself in an awkward situation, such as tripping in public or saying the wrong thing at a party. Imagine how you would feel and how you could respond to make the situation less awkward.

2. associate
   

   - Associate the word 'awkward' with feelings of unease or discomfort. Think of times when you have felt awkward and how you coped with the situation.

3. mnemonics
   

   - Create a mnemonic using the acronym AWKWARD: 'A' for Awkward behavior, 'W' for Weird situations, 'K' for Keep calm, 'W' for Work it out, 'A' for Apologize, and 'R' for Remember to laugh at yourself.

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