as in clumsy
having or showing an inability to move in a graceful manner
the stiff, gawky gait of a newborn colt
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of gawky
Kitty Ruskin, TIME, 5 Aug. 2024
Actors are hired to play gawky scientists during interviews.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 12 July 2024
Puberty and the ‘gawky brain’ In the film, Riley is 13-years-old, still playing hockey, and preparing for high school.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 12 June 2024
The way Dunst scrunches her eyebrows and speaks in her highest register, never abandoning her character’s gawky sincerity, is a comedic gold mine.
—Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 12 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for gawky 
Adjective
Even the most lighthearted TikToks reflected a disgust in men who appear awkward, gawky, or fragile.
—Kitty Ruskin, TIME, 5 Aug. 2024
Actors are hired to play gawky scientists during interviews.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 12 July 2024
Puberty and the ‘gawky brain’ In the film, Riley is 13-years-old, still playing hockey, and preparing for high school.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 12 June 2024
The way Dunst scrunches her eyebrows and speaks in her highest register, never abandoning her character’s gawky sincerity, is a comedic gold mine.
—Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 12 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for gawky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gawky
Adjective
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In a moment when Liston was hurling a clumsy punch and his balance was susceptible, Ali threw what looked like a swiping right graze at his opponent’s head.Mikal Gilmore, Rolling Stone, 17 Jan. 2025
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Even observers who think the outlook for China’s economy is less dire agree that its growth is slowing and will be constrained by structural challenges and a clumsy policymaking process.Jude Blanchette, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025
Noun
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And when someone does cross the line, like the louts who doused cops in Harlem and Brownsville with water in 2019, most officers have shown remarkable restraint.Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 4 Feb. 2024
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That’s the memorable insult that James Kennedy (the DJ of the group) hurled at Tom Sandoval (the resident lout) last season after Sandoval — who had a girlfriend — became romantically involved with Kennedy’s ex-girlfriend.Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2024
Adjective
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Though the two might have an awkward run-in in the Love Island All-Stars Villa.Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 13 Jan. 2025
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Ribas’ hands and movement were much crisper than that of Dern, whose movement was awkward and punches were slower and wilder than those of her foe.Trent Reinsmith, Forbes, 12 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Either Sandler could make great work but cynically chooses not to in order to make more money, or Sandler is a talentless oaf who somehow was able to achieve something actually good with the help of a visionary director.Jesse David Fox, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2024
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As women have enjoyed more economic opportunities, they’re less often forced to marry some oaf who gets violent after a few drinks — and, anyway, what self-respecting woman with independent means would want to marry, say, a fan of Andrew Tate?Nicholas Kristof, The Mercury News, 2 Apr. 2024
Adjective
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The apparent impact is on video, with the ungainly trims placed on the picture demanded by a wide corner a thing of the past on the S25 Utlra.Ewan Spence, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
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With two soldiers able to wrestle the ungainly seven foot long M20 into position on its tripod, the mobility of such a lethal system proved to be a game changer.Mike Hanlon, New Atlas, 12 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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While some steps have been taken to confront the challenge — such as loans, grants and tax credits extended to domestic mining and minerals processing projects — our efforts remain woefully uncoordinated and constitute a fraction of what’s needed.John Adams, Boston Herald, 28 Sep. 2024
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Internal silos hinder customer experience because uncoordinated teams cannot provide a holistic and simple process to customers.Max Soloshchanskiy, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Shaun's attempts to find the tyke at the fair inspire lots of Aardman's typically hilarious sight gags, all performed without dialogue.EW.com, EW.com, 20 Dec. 2024
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And with nearly 7,500 square feet of living space, tiny tykes are afforded lots of breathing room to enjoy.Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 12 Oct. 2024
Noun
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Here, the blurring is visual: Sometimes Leonard floats into the past looking like Gere, who wears the character without a shred of self-protection as the lens gawks at his raw skin.Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024
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The Esprit's shape, arguably more avant-garde despite its age, consistently pegs the gawk meter.John Phillips, Car and Driver, 18 June 2020
Thesaurus Entries Near gawky
Cite this Entry
“Gawky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gawky. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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