Noun: awkwardness ok-wurd-nus [N. Amer], ok-wûd-nus [Brit]
- Clumsiness or lack of skill, especially due to insufficient training
"Her awkwardness in social situations was painfully obvious";
- clumsiness, ineptness, ineptitude, maladroitness, slowness, cack-handedness [Brit, informal]
- The carriage of someone whose movements and posture are ungainly or inelegant
"Her awkwardness on the dance floor was endearing";
- clumsiness
- The inelegance of someone stiff and unrelaxed (as by embarrassment)
"His awkwardness at the formal dinner was painfully obvious";
- clumsiness, gracelessness, stiffness
- The quality or state of being awkward, uncomfortable, or clumsy
"There was an awkwardness in the room after his inappropriate comment"
- Trouble in carrying or managing caused by bulk or shape
"the movers cursed the awkwardness of the big piano";
- cumbersomeness, unwieldiness
Type of: bearing, carriage, disadvantage, inconvenience, inelegance, posture, troublesomeness, unskilfulness [Brit, Cdn], unskillfulness [N. Amer], worriment [US, informal]
Antonym: gracefulness
Encyclopedia: Awkwardness