awkwardness
/ˈɔːkwədnəs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɔːkwərdnəs/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈȯ-kwərd-nəs/ (ame, mw)
awkwardness — noun
1. A feeling of shame or unease that appears in social situations when people find
A feeling of shame or unease that appears in social situations when people find it hard to know how to behave or what to say.
Evelyn tried to break the awkwardness by telling a funny story about her own travel mishap.
break the awkwardness
The awkwardness between them after the argument made the whole car ride feel extremely long.
There was a clear awkwardness in the room when nobody knew how to respond to his news.
Wei wanted to leave early simply to avoid the awkwardness of saying goodbye to a crowded table.
The long silence added to the awkwardness, so Fernando quickly changed the subject.
- embarrassment
more personal; focuses on the person's own shame, whereas awkwardness often describes the shared social tension
- discomfort
broader; can refer to physical unease, not only social situations
- unease
more general feeling of anxiety, not necessarily tied to a social setting
- ease
the relaxed comfort that comes when social interaction flows naturally
- smoothness
a social situation that unfolds without awkward pauses
用法筆記
Often used with verbs like 'break', 'avoid', 'add to', and prepositions like 'between' (people) or 'of' (a situation). Frequently found in phrases describing tense social encounters.
常見錯誤
2. The quality of being difficult to handle, carry, or work with because of size, s
The quality of being difficult to handle, carry, or work with because of size, shape, or a poorly planned design.
Vikram complained about the awkwardness of the new app when he tried to upload his project files.
awkwardness of the new app
The awkwardness of carrying the large sofa through the narrow hallway made the move much harder.
Omar grew frustrated with the awkwardness of the kitchen layout, where the cabinets were set too high.
The awkwardness of the tool's short handle caused blisters on his palm within minutes of use.
- inconvenience
broader; covers any trouble or bother, not just physical handling
- unwieldiness
specifically about size or shape making something hard to hold or move
- cumbersomeness
focuses on weight and bulk making something slow or heavy to manage
- convenience
ease of use or handling that comes from good design
- handiness
the quality of being easy to carry and use
用法筆記
Typically followed by 'of' + a noun phrase describing the object or task. Describes practical difficulty rather than social tension.
常見錯誤
3. A lack of grace or ease in a person's movements or posture, often making them ap
A lack of grace or ease in a person's movements or posture, often making them appear stiff, uncoordinated, or unattractive.
Amara was embarrassed by the awkwardness of her dance moves during her very first salsa lesson.
awkwardness of her dance moves
The teenager's awkwardness showed in the way he kept bumping into desks and dropping his books.
Mandla watched the video of his presentation and winced at the awkwardness of his hand gestures.
Li's long legs only added to the awkwardness of his movements as he learned to balance on the bike.
Zuri could see the awkwardness in her own walk whenever she tried to walk in high-heeled shoes.
- clumsiness
focuses on bumping into things or dropping objects; more about accidents than appearance
- gracelessness
emphasises the lack of elegance or polish in movement
- stiffness
highlights rigidity rather than lack of coordination
用法筆記
Frequently describes a person's physical movements or posture, especially during adolescence or when learning a new physical skill. Also used for the way someone looks in photos or on video.
常見錯誤
4. Behaviour in which someone intentionally makes things difficult for others by re
Behaviour in which someone intentionally makes things difficult for others by refusing to cooperate or by creating unnecessary obstacles.
The manager's awkwardness in processing the refund felt like a deliberate way to discourage returns.
awkwardness in processing the refund
Zuri grew tired of the landlord's awkwardness whenever she asked about repairs to the broken heater.
Daniel's awkwardness in sharing the project files caused the whole team to miss the deadline.
Jack accused his colleague of pure awkwardness after she refused to pass along the client's message.
- obstruction
more general; can refer to physical blockage or legal delay, not necessarily rude behaviour
- uncooperativeness
focuses on refusal to help rather than active creation of difficulty
- difficultness
informal; refers to a person's general tendency to be hard to deal with
- cooperation
willingness to work together and help others
- helpfulness
active support and assistance
用法筆記
This sense carries a strong negative judgment about someone's intentions. It differs from Sense 1 (SOCIAL EMBARRASSMENT) in that the difficulty is actively created by a person, not a shared uncomfortable feeling.