" awkwardness "

1: as in clumsiness, heavy-handedness;

•  Synonyms : 

•  clumsiness,

•  gaucheness,

•  gawkiness,

•  gawkishness,

•  gracelessness,

•  ham-handedness,

•  heavy-handedness,

•  klutziness,

•  ungainliness,

•  disability,

•  inability,

•  incapability,

•  incapacity,

•  debilitation,

•  disablement,

•  impairment,

•  incapacitation,

•  unhandiness

•  Antonyms : 

•  agility,

•  deftness,

•  dexterity,

•  nimbleness,

•  sleight,

•  spryness,

•  coordination,

•  flexibility,

•  gracefulness,

•  limberness,

•  litheness,

•  loose-jointedness,

•  suppleness

1: lacking social grace and assurance;

  * e.g., " ... preteens feeling awkward at their first formal dance "

•  Synonyms : 

•  clumsy,

•  gauche,

•  graceless,

•  inelegant,

•  rough-hewn,

•  rustic,

•  stiff,

•  stilted,

•  uncomfortable,

•  uneasy,

•  ungraceful,

•  wooden

•  Antonyms : 

•  graceful,

•  suave,

•  urbane

2: showing or marked by a lack of skill and tact (as in dealing with a situation);

  * e.g., " ... her awkward handling of the seating arrangements at the wedding reception resulted in many hurt feelings "

•  Synonyms : 

•  botched,

•  bungling,

•  clumsy,

•  fumbled,

•  inept,

•  inexpert,

•  maladroit

•  Antonyms : 

•  adroit,

•  deft,

•  dexterous,

•  facile

3: causing embarrassment;

  * e.g., " ... the awkward situation of having to listen as your host and hostess quarrel loudly in the next room "

•  Synonyms : 

•  discomfiting,

•  disconcerting,

•  disturbing,

•  embarrassing,

•  flustering,

•  uncomfortable

•  Antonyms : 

•  convenient,

•  ultraconvenient