awkward
Describes a situation, person, or movement that is clumsy, uncomfortable, or embarrassing. It often refers to social situations lacking ease or objects that are difficult to handle due to their shape or size.
Exemples
3 sur 5There was an awkward silence after he made the inappropriate comment during dinner.
There was an uncomfortable and embarrassing period of no talking after his comment.
The diplomat found himself in an awkward position when the two leaders refused to shake hands.
The official was in a difficult and embarrassing situation regarding the leaders' refusal.
It was so awkward bumping into my ex-boyfriend at the gym yesterday.
It was very uncomfortable and socially clumsy meeting my former partner unexpectedly.
Synonymes
Antonymes
Famille de mots
Astuce mémo
The 'awk' sound is like a bird (an Auk) trying to walk on land—it looks very 'awkward' and lacks grace.
Quiz rapide
The heavy, circular table was very ________ to move through the narrow doorway.
Correct !
La bonne réponse est : awkward
Exemples
There was an awkward silence after he made the inappropriate comment during dinner.
everydayThere was an uncomfortable and embarrassing period of no talking after his comment.
The diplomat found himself in an awkward position when the two leaders refused to shake hands.
formalThe official was in a difficult and embarrassing situation regarding the leaders' refusal.
It was so awkward bumping into my ex-boyfriend at the gym yesterday.
informalIt was very uncomfortable and socially clumsy meeting my former partner unexpectedly.
The researcher noted that the apparatus was awkward to use, leading to slight variations in the data.
academicThe scientist observed that the equipment was difficult and clumsy to handle.
The timing of the merger announcement was awkward, coming just days before the CEO's retirement.
businessThe scheduling of the news was inconvenient and caused social or professional discomfort.
Synonymes
Antonymes
Famille de mots
Collocations courantes
Phrases Courantes
an awkward customer
a person who is difficult to deal with or uncooperative
in an awkward spot
in a difficult or embarrassing situation
the awkward squad
a group of people who are difficult to manage or organize
Souvent confondu avec
'Clumsy' usually refers specifically to physical lack of coordination, while 'awkward' applies to both physical movements and social situations.
'Inconvenient' refers to something that causes trouble or extra work, while 'awkward' implies a sense of embarrassment or lack of grace.
Notes d'usage
Use 'awkward' to describe feelings of social discomfort or to describe objects that are physically hard to manage because of their shape. It is a versatile word that covers both social and physical domains.
Erreurs courantes
Learners often use 'awkward' to mean 'difficult' in a general sense (e.g., 'an awkward exam'), but it should specifically imply difficulty caused by clumsiness, lack of social ease, or poor design.
Astuce mémo
The 'awk' sound is like a bird (an Auk) trying to walk on land—it looks very 'awkward' and lacks grace.
Origine du mot
Derived from the Middle English 'awk' (meaning 'turned the wrong way') and the suffix '-ward' (indicating direction).
Modèles grammaticaux
Contexte culturel
In many English-speaking cultures, especially British and American, 'awkwardness' is a common theme in comedy and social self-deprecation.
Quiz rapide
The heavy, circular table was very ________ to move through the narrow doorway.
Correct !
La bonne réponse est : awkward
Grammaire lie
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