Basic Details
Word: Awkward
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Feeling uncomfortable or clumsy in a situation.
Synonyms: Uncomfortable, clumsy, graceless
Antonyms: Smooth, graceful, confident
Idioms and Phrases
- Awkward moment: A situation that feels uncomfortable or embarrassing. Example: "There was an awkward moment when everyone forgot to sing happy birthday."
- Awkward silence: A period of silence that feels uncomfortable because people do not know what to say. Example: "After his joke fell flat, an awkward silence filled the room."
Usage Examples
Example 1: I felt awkward when I tripped over my shoelaces in front of my friends.
Example 2: The conversation became awkward when nobody knew what to say next.
Example 3: She made an awkward attempt to dance, but everyone cheered her on.
Fun Fact
Did you know that the word "awkward" comes from an old Norse word "afugr," which means "backhanded" or "turned the wrong way"? This gives it a sense of being out of place or uncomfortable.
Famous Quote
"The only thing worse than an awkward silence is a loud one." Anonymous
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "awkward" mean?
a) Comfortable and relaxed
b) Feeling uncomfortable or clumsy
c) Full of joy
d) Quick and easy
Answer: b) Feeling uncomfortable or clumsy
2. Which of these is a synonym of "awkward"?
a) Smooth
b) Graceless
c) Confident
d) Skillful
Answer: b) Graceless
3. Which word is an antonym of "awkward"?
a) Clumsy
b) Confident
c) Awkward
d) Strange
Answer: b) Confident
4. Which sentence uses "awkward" correctly?
a) It was an awkward moment when I received my award.
b) The dancer was awkward and performed beautifully.
c) The food was awkward and tasted great.
d) I ran awkwardly to catch the bus and it was two blocks away.
Answer: a) It was an awkward moment when I received my award.
5. Which phrase means a situation that feels uncomfortable?
a) Awkward silence
b) Happy ending
c) The early bird catches the worm
d) A piece of cake
Answer: a) Awkward silence
