awkwardness
awkwardness — noun
1. a feeling of being uncomfortable, shy, or embarrassed in a social situation — fo
a feeling of being uncomfortable, shy, or embarrassed in a social situation — for example, when nobody speaks after an awkward pause or when you say the wrong thing at a formal dinner.
After his joke met with silence, an uncomfortable awkwardness settled over the dinner table.
An uncomfortable awkwardness hung between Theo and his ex-friend; neither spoke for a long time.
awkwardness + between + people — relationship tension
Meeting a partner's parents for the first time often brings some awkwardness.
Ananya tried to break the awkwardness by asking a simple question, but the silence continued.
- embarrassment
stronger and more specific than awkwardness — embarrassment involves shame after a specific incident, whereas awkwardness can be a general uncomfortable atmosphere
- discomfort
broader than awkwardness — can refer to physical unease, not just social
- unease
suggests anxiety or worry about what might happen, rather than current social tension
- ease
the comfortable, relaxed feeling that is the opposite of social awkwardness
文法句型
awkwardness + of + noun/gerund
awkwardness + between + people
awkwardness + with + noun
用法筆記
This is the most frequent sense of awkwardness. The word is uncountable in standard English — avoid using it with the indefinite article ('an awkwardness'). Common collocations include 'break the awkwardness', 'awkwardness between [people]', and 'social awkwardness'.
常見錯誤
2. the difficulty of handling, carrying, or using something because of its size, sh
the difficulty of handling, carrying, or using something because of its size, shape, or poor design — like a heavy box with no handles or a tool that does not fit your hand well.
The awkwardness of the old-fashioned scissors made cutting thick fabric a real challenge.
awkwardness + of + object — difficulty due to design
Mei quickly saw the awkwardness of carrying shopping bags and an umbrella in the rain.
The awkwardness of the oddly shaped box made it hard to fit into the car.
The awkwardness of the new software meant Kenji needed three clicks to save a file.
- inconvenience
focuses on the trouble caused rather than the inherent difficulty of the object's design
- cumbersomeness
specifically suggests something is heavy or bulky and hard to carry
- impracticality
suggests the design is not suited for its intended purpose
- convenience
ease of use or handling
文法句型
awkwardness + of + noun/gerund
用法筆記
This sense often describes physical objects (tools, furniture, packaging) but can also apply to abstract systems (software, processes, procedures). The construction 'awkwardness of [noun/gerund]' is the most common pattern.
3. a lack of smoothness, grace, or natural ease in the way someone moves or appears
a lack of smoothness, grace, or natural ease in the way someone moves or appears — for example, tripping while walking across a stage, or standing with an unbalanced posture.
The teenager's sudden growth spurt left him with a certain awkwardness in his walk.
awkwardness + in + body part / movement
Sofia recalled the awkwardness of her first dance lesson, stepping on her partner's feet repeatedly.
The horse moved with a surprising awkwardness, stumbling over stones that smaller animals crossed easily.
Amara noticed her brother's awkwardness as he tried to balance on the surfboard.
- clumsiness
more common and slightly stronger than awkwardness — suggests a tendency to drop or bump into things
- ungainliness
specifically describes large or tall people whose movements lack grace
- inelegance
focuses on appearance rather than movement; suggests a lack of style or refinement
文法句型
awkwardness + in + movement/posture/gait
awkwardness + of + body part/movement
用法筆記
This sense focuses on physical movement or appearance and differs from the SOCIAL EMBARRASSMENT sense (Sense 1): someone can move with awkwardness without feeling socially embarrassed. It is commonly used with body parts ('awkwardness of his limbs'), movement ('awkwardness in her gait'), or posture ('awkwardness of his stance').
4. behaviour in which someone intentionally refuses to cooperate, makes things diff
behaviour in which someone intentionally refuses to cooperate, makes things difficult, or creates problems for others, often for selfish reasons.
The customer's deliberate awkwardness — refusing every solution the staff offered — tested everyone's patience.
deliberate awkwardness — intentional uncooperativeness
Hassan's awkwardness during the meeting, constantly interrupting and rejecting ideas, frustrated the whole team.
The landlord's awkwardness over the repair showed no intention of fixing the leaky pipe.
The negotiator viewed the other side's awkwardness as a tactic, not a genuine objection.
- uncooperativeness
more neutral — describes simple refusal to help without the element of active obstruction
- obstinacy
focuses on stubborn refusal to change position rather than active unhelpfulness
- obstructiveness
stronger and more negative — implies actively blocking progress
- cooperativeness
the willingness to work together and help
文法句型
deliberate/sheer awkwardness
awkwardness + over + topic
awkwardness + about + topic
用法筆記
This sense is primarily British English and often appears with 'deliberate' or 'sheer' for emphasis. It describes a wilful, oppositional attitude rather than accidental difficulty. Distinguish from Sense 2 (HARD TO USE), where the difficulty comes from the object's design, not from a person's attitude.