What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
awk
Example
He tripped over his own feet and had an awk moment. [awk: noun]
Example
She felt awk trying to make conversation with strangers. [awk: adjective]
ungainly
Example
The toddler walked in an ungainly manner, stumbling every few steps. [ungainly: adverb]
Example
The box was so ungainly that it was hard to carry up the stairs. [ungainly: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Awk is more commonly used in everyday language, especially in informal contexts, while ungainly is less common and tends to be used in more formal or descriptive writing.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between awk and ungainly?
While awk is associated with a casual and informal tone, ungainly is slightly more formal and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
