awkwardness
Graceless, uneasy feeling
Awkwardness is the quality of being uncomfortable, clumsy, or socially uneasy.
Physical awkwardness shows in ungainly movement: the awkwardness of a newborn foal.
Social awkwardness involves discomfort in interactions: There was an awkwardness between them after the breakup.
A situation's awkwardness comes from tension or embarrassment that no one quite knows how to dispel.
Handle with clumsy fingers
- stumbleLose footing momentarily
- klutzAwkward, graceless person
- ungainlyLacking ease of movement
- uncoordinatedLacking physical grace
gawkiness · lumbering · maladroit · graceless · gangly · oafish · ham-handed · clunky
Social misstep or indiscretion
- gaffeClumsy social error
- blunderFoolish, costly mistake
- misstepError in action or judgment
- tactlessnessAbsence of social sensitivity
indiscretion · impropriety · gaucherie · solecism · indelicacy · breach · slip-up · flub
Facial reddening from emotion
- mortificationIntense shame or embarrassment
- humiliationLoss of dignity
- self-consciousUncomfortably aware of oneself
- chagrinDistress from wounded pride
red-faced · flustered · sheepish · discomfiture · abashment · stammer · shame · cringe
Mild persistent worry
- nervousnessState of anxious unease
- discomfortMild physical or mental distress
- tensionStretched or strained state
- fidgetingRestless minor movements
edginess · restlessness · strained · stilted · forced · silence · pause · small-talk
Inexperienced newcomer to field
- rookieInexperienced newcomer
- greenhornInexperienced, gullible newcomer
- fledglingInexperienced newcomer
- beginnerOne who lacks experience
newbie · amateur · first-time · unfamiliar · uncertain · tentative · halting · unpracticed
fumble
Handle with clumsy fingers
uncoordinated · gawkiness · lumbering · maladroit · graceless · gangly · oafish · ham-handed · clunky · butterfingers
faux pas
Social misstep or indiscretion
tactlessness · indiscretion · impropriety · gaucherie · solecism · indelicacy · breach · slip-up · flub · misjudgment
blush
Facial reddening from emotion
- mortificationIntense shame or embarrassment
- humiliationLoss of dignity
- self-consciousUncomfortably aware of oneself
chagrin · red-faced · flustered · sheepish · discomfiture · abashment · stammer · shame · cringe · wince
unease
Mild persistent worry
- nervousnessState of anxious unease
- discomfortMild physical or mental distress
- tensionStretched or strained state
fidgeting · edginess · restlessness · strained · stilted · forced · silence · pause · small-talk · icebreaker
novice
Inexperienced newcomer to field
- rookieInexperienced newcomer
- greenhornInexperienced, gullible newcomer
- fledglingInexperienced newcomer
beginner · newbie · amateur · first-time · unfamiliar · uncertain · tentative · halting · unpracticed · rusty
- lack of skillincompetence, ineptitude, inexperience, bungling, fumbling
- puppy lovefirst crush, first kiss, first love, crush, crushes
- skill deficiencyincompetence, ineptitude, inexperience, forgetfulness, slow learner
- teen anxietysocial anxiety, test anxiety, school anxiety, peer pressure, self-doubt
- physical clumsinessstumbling, fumbling, ungainliness, gracelessness, unsteadiness
- social fearssocial anxiety, social phobia, fear of judgment, fear of rejection, fear of embarrassment
awkwardnessgrace
Effortless beauty of motion
gracefulness · elegance · agility · fluidity · poise
awkwardnessease
Lack of strain
poise · comfort · composure · smoothness · naturalness