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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gawky
Indiewire Staff, IndieWire, 12 Aug. 2024
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
See all Example Sentences for gawky 
Adjective
One such person is Jason Segel, a gawky and affable character actor who Apatow correctly identified as a rom-com leading man.
—Indiewire Staff, IndieWire, 12 Aug. 2024
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
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
-
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
-
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
-
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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Listen to Marsden recall the awkward encounter in the clip above.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
24 Jan. 2025
-
In his defense, the Anti-Defamation League tweeted from X that Musk’s gesture seemed to be an awkward expression of enthusiasm.—
Quartz Intelligence Newsroom,
Quartz,
24 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
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
-
All the work of shredding the cheese was already done, a boost for my innocent, relatively uncoordinated hands.—
Catherine Jessee,
Southern Living,
19 Jan. 2025
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The result could be an uncoordinated approach that creates patchy systems with unclear outcomes for employees and stakeholders.—
London School of Economics,
Forbes,
16 Jan. 2025
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 31 Jan. 2025.
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