Gawky

/ˈɡɔːki/ · adjective

Meaning

Awkward, ungainly; lacking grace or dexterity in movement..

Definitions by Sense

1. Awkward, ungainly; lacking grace or dexterity in movement.
2. (Yorkshire, West Riding) Left-handed.
3. An awkward, ungainly person.

Example Sentences

The “gawky” illustrations look as though they may have been done by Belva Jean herself (Bulletin, Mar. 1989).

The woman had barely come up to Seth's shoulder. Petite with curly blonde hair and a dimpled smile. Nothing at all like Francine with her plain brown hair and hazel eyes. Just looking at the woman's picture had made her feel tall and gawky.

"[…] Mrs. Sedley had forgiven his breaking the punch-bowl at the child's party. Don't you remember the catastrophe, Ma'am, seven years ago?" "Over Mrs. Flamingo's crimson silk gown," said good-natured Mrs. Sedley. "What a gawky it was! And his sisters are not much more graceful. Lady Dobbin was at Highbury last night with three of them. Such figures! my dears."

Let not the inconveniently tall, the gawkies, the Maypoles, despair.

Synonyms for gawky

Antonyms for gawky

Related Words

Word Forms

• gawkier
• gawkiest
• gawkies

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

Practice and Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions