adj.1 ill-adapted for use; causing difficulty in use.
2 clumsy or bungling.
3 a embarrassed (felt awkward about it). b embarrassing (an awkward situation).
4 difficult to deal with (an awkward customer).
Phrases and idioms:
the awkward age adolescence.
Derivatives:
awkwardly adv. awkwardness n.
Etymology: obs. awk backhanded, untoward (ME f. ON afugr turned the wrong way) + -WARD