awkwardness
pronunciation
How to pronounce awkwardness in British English:
UK ['ɔ:kwədnəs]
How to pronounce awkwardness in American English:
US [ˈɔkwɚdnɪs]
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- Noun:
- unskillfulness resulting from a lack of training
- the quality of an embarrassing situation
- the carriage of someone whose movements and posture are ungainly or inelegant
- the inelegance of someone stiff and unrelaxed (as by embarrassment)
- trouble in carrying or managing caused by bulk or shape
Word Origin
- awkwardness (n.)
- 1704, "lack of grace," from awkward + -ness. Meaning "physical clumsiness" is attested from c. 1770; that of "social embarrassment" is from 1788.
Example
- 1. Double meaning can help soothe the awkwardness of bribe-paying .
- 2. And they are often associated with clumsiness and awkwardness .
- 3. Crazy english 's approach , which involves large crowds shouting out phrases in english , is designed to shake students out of the awkwardness many chinese feel about speaking a foreign language .
- 4. The armenian killings incur no such awkwardness .
- 5. We may feel inferior , or different and unable relate , which can trigger a fear of awkwardness and drive the anxiety and avoidance .