different between cumbrous vs awkward

English

Etymology

cumber +? -ous

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?k?mb??s/

Adjective

cumbrous (comparative more cumbrous, superlative most cumbrous)

1. Unwieldy because of its weight; cumbersome.
   • 1727, Jonathan Swift, Desire and Possession

     He sunk beneath the cumbrous weight.

   • 1840, Thomas De Quincey, Style (published in Blackwood's Magazine)

     that cumbrous and unwieldy style which disfigures English composition so extensively
2. (obsolete) Giving trouble; vexatious.

References

• “cumbrous”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–present.

English

Etymology

From awk (“odd, clumsy”) +? -ward.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /???kw?d/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /??kw?d/
• (Canada, cot–caught merger) IPA^(key): /??kw?d/
• Hyphenation: awk?ward

Adverb

awkward (comparative more awkward, superlative most awkward)

1. (obsolete) In a backwards direction.
   • :

     Than groned the knyght for his grymme woundis, and gyrdis to Sir Gawayne and awkewarde hym strykes, and […] kut thorow a vayne […].

Adjective

awkward (comparative awkwarder or more awkward, superlative awkwardest or most awkward)

1. Lacking dexterity in the use of the hands, or of instruments.

   Synonyms: clumsy, lubberly, ungraceful, unhandy

   Antonyms: dexterous, gainly, graceful, handy, skillful

2. Not easily managed or effected; embarrassing.

3. Lacking social skills, or uncomfortable with social interaction.

   Synonym: maladroit

   Antonyms: amiable, cool

4. Perverse; adverse; difficult to handle.

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

awkward (plural awkwards)

1. Someone or something that is awkward.