Awkwardness Meaning

/ˈɔkwərdnəs/
B2

Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

Listen pronunciation

nounThe state or quality of being awkward; clumsiness; unskillfulness.

nounThe quality of an embarrassing situation.

Her awkwardness was uncanny.
I sensed the awkwardness in the room.
The feeling of awkwardness did not leave me.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ of the silence made everyone look at the floor.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ of the situation was felt by everyone in the small room.

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂ep Proto-Indo-European *-o Proto-Indo-European *h₂epó Proto-Indo-European *h₃ekʷ- Proto-Indo-European *h₂époh₃kʷos Proto-Germanic *abuhaz Old Norse ǫfugrder. Middle English awke English awk Proto-Indo-European *wert-der. Proto-Germanic *wardaz Old English -weard English -ward English awkward Proto-Germanic *-in- Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ti Proto-Germanic *-ōną Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English awkwardness From awkward + -ness.

"[…] instead of the joyous voices of his playfellows he hears the rough commands of an unindulgent master or a scolding mistress; — he is continually reproached for his awkwardness and timidity, and reminded of his pauper origin." — 1849, Minutes of the committee of council on education, page 82:

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CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ of the silence made everyone look at the floor.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ of the situation was felt by everyone in the small room.

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