adjective 1 causing difficulty; hard to do or deal with : one of the most awkward jobs is painting a ceiling | some awkward questions | the wheelbarrow can be awkward to maneuver. • deliberately unreasonable or uncooperative : you're being damned awkward! | please excuse my daughter—she's at an awkward age. 2 causing or feeling embarrassment or inconvenience : he had put her in a very awkward situation. 3 not smooth or graceful; ungainly : Luther's awkward movements impeded his progress | she was long-legged and rather awkward.