Why does the usage of the word 'awkward' seem to be changing?

Question

The word has a number of meanings including 'difficult to handle to due size or shape', 'causing inconvenience', 'potentially embarrassing' and 'lacking grace'.

Why then do I see some people online using the word as if it simply means 'bad' or 'difficult' or 'wrong'?

Is it one of those words where a lot of people don't know what it actually means and is often used incorrectly? Or is this one of those situations where the meaning of a word changes over time? Has anyone else noticed what I'm talking about?

I know the word has a lot of meanings, but I am talking about people using it specifically in an incorrect sense.

Answer 1

It's a word that some people don't understand and use improperly. This can often lead to its 'slang' use in incorrect contexts, but of course those people don't pick it up.

Unfortunately this seems to happen a lot... I guess as long as you can work out what they mean, it's ok. Communication is the name of the game, after all.

But no, it's not changing... and hopefully it never does.

Answer 2

Actually, I just looked it up in the OED and this is what it gave me:



A. adv.
1. In the wrong direction, in the wrong way.
a. Upside down; hindside foremost.
b. In a backward direction, with a back stroke.
c. Asquint.
d. In some modern dialects = AWALT, q.v. Obs. or dial.

B. adj.
1. Turned the wrong way, averted, back-handed; not straightforward, oblique. Obs.
2. Froward, untoward, perverse, in conduct. (Passing into ‘cross-grained, cantankerous, disagreeable in behaviour,’ and so into 7b.) Obs.
3. Untoward, unfavourable, adverse to one's course. lit. and fig. Obs.
4. a. Of things: Untoward or unfavourable for one's purpose; ill-adapted for use; clumsy in operation.
b. Of persons: Lacking dexterity or skill in performing their part; clumsy in action, bungling. Phr. awkward squad: see SQUAD n.1 1b.
5. Ungraceful, ungainly in action or form; uncouth:
a. of things, action, speech, etc.
b. of persons.
6. a. Of things: Embarrassing, inconvenient.
b. Of persons: Not at one's ease; embarrassed.
7. a. Of things: Not easy to deal with; requiring cautious action; euphemistic for ‘rather dangerous.’
b. Of persons: Dangerous to meddle with.
c. Phr. the awkward age: the time of life when one is no longer a child and yet not properly grown up. (Cf. F. l' âge ingrat.)


It seems that "bad" and "wrong," more or less, are accurate connotations. Perhaps it's just being used more in that sense now than we're used to hearing; though I think I do understand what you mean, and I've noticed the same thing.

Answer 3

Your appraisal of the situation is totally 100% awkward.

Answer 4

Just another word that has alot of meanings. Look up "set" in the dictionary, for example.

Answer 5

This is a awkward question to answer as i have never heard anyone use it to that means

Answer 6

This is an awkward question, and you've put me in a rather awkward situation in that it is rather awkward to explain it on-line.

Good question, sorry that my answer is of no help.

SUCCESS!

Answer 7

I've NEVER heard people use it in a sense in which it meant "bad", "difficult", or "wrong"

Answer 8

How ironic...