How to Use awkward in a Sentence

awkward

adjective
Definition of awkwardnext
Synonyms for awkwardnext
  • He was put in the awkward position of having to write the memo.
  • He feels awkward with strangers.
  • He had large feet and his walk was awkward and ungainly.
  • There was an awkward pause in the conversation.
  • The machine is very awkward to operate.
  • She is awkward at dancing.
  • She is an awkward writer.
  • The story contained some awkward writing.
  • I often find myself in awkward situations.
  • 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.
    — Words From the Land, Stephen Trimble, editor, 1988
  • But the awkward use of big words makes for bad writing.
    — Silas Allen, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Feb. 2024
  • The result was an awkward Frankenstein of tone and rhythm that could make the corniest dad cringe.
    — Caleb Madison, The Atlantic, 28 Oct. 2023
  • As the ball took an awkward bounce toward the pitcher’s mound, Warner was in a full-on sprint.
    — Nathan Canilao, The Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2024
  • They were paid to leave the rest of us—awkward teens and non-superhuman adults alike—in awe.
    — Dina Gachman, Glamour, 27 Sep. 2023
  • One awkward, fateful night, Liz and Carrie were briefly at Dave’s home at the same time.
    — Chris Vognar, Rolling Stone, 9 Feb. 2024
  • The second awkward fact is that airline emissions are tough to deal with.
    — Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2023
  • This has created an awkward clash in the West Maui resort enclave of Kā’anapali.
    — Leilani Marie Labong, Travel + Leisure, 30 Mar. 2024
  • After an awkward start that saw Linda in tears, the pair soon got into it over their issues.
    — Maggie Kreienberg, Peoplemag, 1 Nov. 2023
  • In his younger days, Charles was awkward and shy, seemingly ill-suited to a life in public.
    — Mark Landler, New York Times, 10 July 2023
  • So are the awkward performances that attendees have to put on to endure them.
    — Ray A. Smith, WSJ, 2 Aug. 2023
  • Hey, Bill: The timing was awkward, but the speculation was going to grow the longer this season went.
    — Paul Hoynes, cleveland, 26 Aug. 2023
  • For one, there are no awkward reenactments and no talking heads.
    — Carolina A. Miranda, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2024
  • That gives everyone a full week to make this as awkward as possible for the birthday jokester.
    — Joseph Goodman | Jgoodman@al.com, al, 4 Aug. 2023
  • Many of us are socially awkward but have learned to fake it in writers rooms and pitch meetings and marriages.
    — Anonymous, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 May 2023
  • The truth is, speaking up to request a separate check or asking to pay less can feel awkward.
    — Li Goldstein, Bon Appétit, 25 Aug. 2023
  • What to Consider: The wide toe box might feel awkward on narrower feet.
    — Nancy Einhart, Travel + Leisure, 25 May 2023
  • New doctor Cameron quits after things get awkward with Mel.
    — Katie Bowlby, Country Living, 13 May 2023
  • At first, working from her kitchen table seemed awkward.
    — Phil Blair, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Mar. 2024
  • Parts of the show are, admittedly, a little awkward but the cases are very real.
    — Olivia Evans, Women's Health, 13 May 2023
  • There was a smattering of applause when the group first came onscreen, but things began to get awkward as the group tried to banter about the upfront.
    — Joe Otterson, Variety, 15 May 2023

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'awkward.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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