as in awkward
having or showing an inability to move in a graceful manner the kind of gawkish girl who trips while receiving her high school diploma

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for gawkish
Adjective
  • However, whether the friendship will survive the awkward gift exchange remains to be seen.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 2 Mar. 2025
  • When Anne Hathaway co-hosted the ceremony with James Franco in 2012, it was widely panned as the Academy's awkward attempt to attract younger viewers.
    Lucia Suarez Sang, CBS News, 2 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The character first appears in the franchise’s original film Scream (1996) as the older brother of Tatum Riley (Rose McGowan) and the clumsy police deputy trying to help solve the murders in their town of Woodsboro.
    Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 4 Mar. 2025
  • Aviles’ dismissal, for a clumsy challenge on the edge of the penalty area, seemed set to turn the game.
    Martin Rogers, The Athletic, 22 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • His unsteady grip on reality means his decisions are guided by insecurity and ego, not the nation’s interests.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025
  • Even with that, the rest of the house poses an ongoing danger with anyone unsteady on one’s feet.
    Carolyn Rosenblatt, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
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.

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gawkish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gawkish. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!