awkwardly

adverb

Definition of awkwardlynext
1
as in clumsily

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Dissimilar Words
2
as in ungracefully

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Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of awkwardly That sits awkwardly against the cost case the category was built on. — William Jones, Ascend Agency, 27 Aug. 2026 Paranormal Activity, the play, builds to the sort of slick and grisly finale that would be just right for the end of a cruel horror movie, but that lands awkwardly onstage. — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026 At the supply intake area, Yeh saw a new volunteer awkwardly unpacking a package of beans layered two cans deep, wrapped in plastic. — Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 25 Aug. 2026 Moore landed awkwardly on his left leg while rushing Jameis Winston early in the game. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 23 Aug. 2026 The investigators who haven’t already died are almost all retired, some of them awkwardly testifying via Zoom with technical difficulties from homes far away. — Andy Rose, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026 The mishap comes at an awkwardly fitting moment for an industry that has spent years promising packages, takeout, and everyday essentials would eventually descend from the sky. — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2026 But late in the Illini’s Week 3 game against Western Michigan, Scott landed awkwardly on his right ankle. — Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026 However, make sure not to awkwardly avoid your ex-stylist on salon trips. — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 11 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for awkwardly
  1. clumsily
  2. irrelevantly
  3. ineptly
  4. unfortunately
  5. gracelessly
Adverb
  • That’s how grifters such as Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White, two former NBA players insinuating themselves clumsily into the transgender sports debate, create value.
    — Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • In June, Luna hopped clumsily from one branch to another, bumping Sandy off her perch and sending her to a branch below.
    — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of clumsily
Adverb
  • Grandma, irrelevantly but convincingly, spoke of wars, blizzards and trekking barefoot to school.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 July 2026
Definition of irrelevantly
Adverb
  • The collapse of the Constitution’s balance of powers between three branches of government got us into an unneeded war conducted ineptly.
    — Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 15 Mar. 2026
  • Dancing the Poznan really ineptly, mind you, but dancing nonetheless.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 8 Sep. 2025
Definition of ineptly
Adverb
  • This very perfunctory cover unfortunately does nothing to build on the original.
    — Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The guys in this locker room believe in each other, and even the guys who, unfortunately, aren’t here, believed in this team.
    — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of unfortunately
Adverb
  • This kind of beauty has nothing to do with perfection, which is distributed so arbitrarily and approximated so gracelessly.
    — Jia Tolentino, New Yorker, 11 July 2026
Definition of gracelessly

Browse Nearby Words

awkward
awkwardly
awkwardness
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Cite this Entry

“Awkwardly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/awkwardly. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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