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Geoyo Posted 13 years ago
Vocabulary

Difference between 'embarassing' and 'awkward'

What's the difference between these two words? Which of them is considered stronger? Are there situations you would call embarassing but not awkward, and vice versa? Could you give an example?
  

Top answer

The words have different uses. Simon was born with a deformed leg, so he walks awkwardly . But he is not embarrassed by his disability.

  • The words have different uses.
  • Simon was born with a deformed leg, so he walks awkwardly .
  • But he is not embarrassed by his disability.
  • He participates in sports.
  • Sometimes when you talk about a sensitive subject, there is an awkward silence in the conversation.
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6 Answers
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The words have different uses.

Simon was born with a deformed leg, so he walks awkwardly. But he is not embarrassed by his disability. He participates in sports.

Sometimes when you talk about a sensitive subject, there is an awkward silence in the conversation. The subject might be embarrassing to the other person.
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Thanks for your reply AlpheccaStars. I think I didn't fully understand it yet. Some more examples which come to my mind:

You trip and fall on the ground, and some people laugh at you
You respond to a person greeting you, but he meant someone else
You watch a movie with your parents and there is a *** scene
You vomit on a public bus

For each situation, would that be aw
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You trip and fall on the ground, and some people laugh at you
You are embarrassed while you are lying on the ground.
You were awkward when you stumbled and fell.

You respond to a person greeting you, but he meant someone else
You might be embarrassed if he stares at you.
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Thank you. So being "embarrassed" describes your feelings, while "awkward" describes the situation? Could you say that?
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Awkward means a lack of good skills. You can feel awkward if you are lacking social skills.
Here is the dictionary entry:http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/awkward?s=t

Embarrassing means you have made a faux pas, your face is red, and you wish you could disappear.
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Thank you that's very helpful

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