Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Awkward \Awk"ward\, a. [Awk + -ward.]
   1. Wanting dexterity in the use of the hands, or of
      instruments; not dexterous; without skill; clumsy; wanting
      ease, grace, or effectiveness in movement; ungraceful; as,
      he was awkward at a trick; an awkward boy.

            And dropped an awkward courtesy.      --Dryden.

   2. Not easily managed or effected; embarrassing.

            A long and awkward process.           --Macaulay.

            An awkward affair is one that has gone wrong, and is
            difficult to adjust.                  --C. J. Smith.

   3. Perverse; adverse; untoward. [Obs.] ``Awkward
      casualties.'' ``Awkward wind.'' --Shak.

            O blind guides, which being of an awkward religion,
            do strain out a gnat, and swallow up a cancel.
                                                  --Udall.

   Syn: Ungainly; unhandy; clownish; lubberly; gawky; maladroit;
        bungling; inelegant; ungraceful; unbecoming.

   Usage: {Awkward}, {Clumsy}, {Uncouth}. Awkward has a special
          reference to outward deportment. A man is clumsy in
          his whole person, he is awkward in his gait and the
          movement of his limbs. Clumsiness is seen at the first
          view. Awkwardness is discovered only when a person
          begins to move. Hence the expressions, a clumsy
          appearance, and an awkward manner. When we speak
          figuratively of an awkward excuse, we think of a want
          of ease and grace in making it; when we speak of a
          clumsy excuse, we think of the whole thing as coarse
          and stupid. We apply the term uncouth most frequently
          to that which results from the want of instruction or
          training; as, uncouth manners; uncouth language. --
          {Awk"ward*ly}, adv. -- {Awk"ward*ness}, n.

Source : WordNet®

awkward
     adj 1: causing inconvenience; "they arrived at an awkward time"
     2: lacking grace or skill in manner or movement or performance;
        "an awkward dancer"; "an awkward gesture"; "too awkward
        with a needle to make her own clothes"; "his clumsy
        fingers produced an awkward knot" [ant: {graceful}]
     3: difficult to handle or manage especially because of shape;
        "an awkward bundle to carry"; "a load of bunglesome
        paraphernalia"; "clumsy wooden shoes"; "the cello, a
        rather ungainly instrument for a girl" [syn: {bunglesome},
         {clumsy}, {ungainly}]
     4: not elegant or graceful in expression; "an awkward prose
        style"; "a clumsy apology"; "his cumbersome writing
        style"; "if the rumor is true, can anything be more inept
        than to repeat it now?" [syn: {clumsy}, {cumbersome}, {inapt},
         {inept}, {ill-chosen}]
     5: hard to deal with; especially causing pain or embarrassment;
        "awkward (or embarrassing or difficult) moments in the
        discussion"; "an awkward pause followed his remark"; "a
        sticky question"; "in the unenviable position of resorting
        to an act he had planned to save for the climax of the
        campaign" [syn: {embarrassing}, {sticky}, {unenviable}]
     6: not at ease socially; unsure and constrained in manner;
        "awkward and reserved at parties"; "ill at ease among
        eddies of people he didn't know"; "was always uneasy with
        strangers" [syn: {ill at ease(p)}, {uneasy}]