Awkward

Awkward is an adjective that describes things that lack ease or grace, or that are difficult to manage or use. It is often used to describe physical movement that is not smooth, clumsy, or ungainly; objects or tools that are cumbersome or user unfriendly; and social situations or moments that feel uncomfortable, embarrassing, or strained.

In everyday language, awkward can describe how someone moves (an awkward stride), how a device works (an awkwardly designed interface), or how a conversation unfolds (an awkward pause after a question). The term can also function as an adverb, awkwardly, and as a noun, awkwardness, to refer to the quality of being awkward.

The etymology of awkward traces to Middle English with roots in earlier Germanic languages; the sense initially connected to being turned aside or not straight, and over time shifted to mean difficult to use, handle, or deal with, and then to the broader social and behavioral meanings.

Common synonyms include clumsy, ungainly, inelegant, and uncomfortable, while antonyms include graceful, smooth, and natural. The word is widely used in both informal speech and formal writing to describe outcomes, interactions, or objects that do not fit easily into expected patterns.