Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [awk-werd]
- /ˈɔk wərd/
- /ˈɔː.kwəd.li/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [awk-werd]
- /ˈɔk wərd/
Definitions of awkwardly word
- adjective awkwardly lacking skill or dexterity. Synonyms: clumsy, inept; unskillful, unhandy, inexpert. Antonyms: deft, adroit, skillful, dexterous; handy. 1
- adjective awkwardly lacking grace or ease in movement: an awkward gesture; an awkward dancer. Synonyms: uncoordinated, graceless, ungainly; gawky; maladroit; clumsy. Antonyms: graceful. 1
- adjective awkwardly lacking social graces or manners: a simple, awkward frontiersman. Synonyms: gauche, unpolished, unrefined; blundering, oafish; ill-mannered, unmannerly, ill-bred. Antonyms: gracious; polite, well-mannered, well-bred; smooth, polished, refined. 1
- adjective awkwardly not well planned or designed for easy or effective use: an awkward instrument; an awkward method. Synonyms: unwieldy, cumbersome, unmanageable; inconvenient, difficult, troublesome. 1
- adjective awkwardly requiring caution; somewhat hazardous: an awkward turn in the road. Synonyms: dangerous, risky, unsafe, chancy; perilous, precarious, treacherous. 1
- adjective awkwardly hard to deal with; difficult; requiring skill, tact, or the like: an awkward situation; an awkward customer. 1
Information block about the term
Origin of awkwardly
First appearance:
before 1300 One of the 15% oldest English words
1300-50; Middle English, equivalent to awk(e), auk(e) ‘backhanded’, Old English *afoc (< Old Norse ǫfugr ‘turned the wrong way’; cognate with Old Saxon, Old High German abuh, Old English afu(h)lic ‘wrong’, off) + -ward -ward
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Awkwardly
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
awkwardly popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 93% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
According to our data about 54% of words is more used. This is a rare but used term. It occurs in the pages of specialized literature and in the speech of educated people.
awkwardly usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for awkwardly
adv awkwardly
- clumsily — awkward in movement or action; without skill or grace: He is very clumsy and is always breaking things.
- carelessly — If someone does something carelessly, they do it without much thought or effort.
- stiffly — rigid or firm; difficult or impossible to bend or flex: a stiff collar.
- bungle — If you bungle something, you fail to do it properly, because you make mistakes or are clumsy.
- fumble — to feel or grope about clumsily: She fumbled in her purse for the keys.
adverb awkwardly
- cumbersome — Something that is cumbersome is large and heavy and therefore difficult to carry, wear, or handle.
- uncomfortably — causing discomfort or distress; painful; irritating.
- uneasily — not easy in body or mind; uncomfortable; restless; disturbed; perturbed.
- self-conscious — excessively aware of being observed by others.
- gauche — lacking social grace, sensitivity, or acuteness; awkward; crude; tactless: Their exquisite manners always make me feel gauche.
Antonyms for awkwardly
adv awkwardly
- gracefully — characterized by elegance or beauty of form, manner, movement, or speech; elegant: a graceful dancer; a graceful reply.
- adroitly — expert or nimble in the use of the hands or body.
- skillfully — having or exercising skill: a skillful juggler.
adverb awkwardly
- easily — in an easy manner; with ease; without trouble: The traffic moved along easily.
- comfortably — If you do something comfortably, you do it easily.
Top questions with awkwardly
- how to not dance awkwardly?
- what does awkwardly mean?
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with a
- Words starting with aw
- Words starting with awk
- Words starting with awkw
- Words starting with awkwa
- Words starting with awkwar
- Words starting with awkward
- Words starting with awkwardl
- Words starting with awkwardly