Awkward vs Absurd - What's the difference?

awkward | absurd |

In obsolete terms the difference between awkward and absurd

is that awkward is in a backwards direction while absurd is an absurdity.

As an adverb awkward

is in a backwards direction.

As a noun absurd is

an absurdity.

awkward

English

Adverb

(en adverb)

(obsolete) In a backwards direction.

*, Bk.V, Ch.x:

Than groned the knyght for his grymme woundis, and gyrdis to Sir Gawayne and awkewarde hym strykes, and.

Adjective

(en-adj)

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

John was awkward at performing the trick. He'll have to practice to improve.

Not easily managed or effected; embarrassing

That was an extremely awkward moment. Everyone was watching.

An awkward silence had fallen.

Lacking social skills, or uncomfortable with social interaction

I'm very awkward at parties.

Things get very awkward whenever 60-year old men use cheesy pick-up lines on me.

Perverse; adverse; difficult to handle

He's a right awkward chap.

These cabinets are going to be very awkward when we move.

Synonyms

* (lacking dexterity) clumsy, ungraceful, unhandy, lubberly * (lacking social skill) maladroit

Antonyms

* (having dexterity) dexterous, graceful, skillful, gainly * (having social skills) cool, amiable

Derived terms

* awkwardly * awkwardness

absurd

English

Adjective

(en-adj)

Contrary to reason or propriety; obviously and flatly opposed to manifest truth; inconsistent with the plain dictates of common sense; logically contradictory; nonsensical; ridiculous; silly.

* 1591 , (William Shakespeare), , V-iv

This proffer is absurd and reasonless.

* ca. 1710 , (Alexander Pope)

This phrase absurd to call a villain great

* , chapter=17

, title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=“Perhaps it is because I have been excommunicated. It's absurd , but I feel like the Jackdaw of Rheims.” ¶ She winced and bowed her head. Each time that he spoke flippantly of the Church he caused her pain.}}

(obsolete) Inharmonious; dissonant.

Having no rational or orderly relationship to people's lives; meaningless; lacking order or value.

* (rfdate) Adults have condemned them to live in what must seem like an absurd universe. - Joseph Featherstone

Dealing with absurdism.

Usage notes

* More and most absurd are the preferred or more common form of the comparable, as opposed to absurder and absurdest. * Among the synonyms: ** Irrational is the weakest, denoting that which is plainly inconsistent with the dictates of sound reason; as, an irrational course of life. ** Foolish rises higher, and implies either a perversion of that faculty, or an absolute weakness or fatuity of mind; as, foolish enterprises. ** Absurd rises still higher, denoting that which is plainly opposed to received notions of propriety and truth; as, an absurd man, project, opinion, story, argument, etc. ** Preposterous rises still higher, and supposes an absolute inversion'' in the order of things; or, in plain terms, a "putting of the cart before the horse;" as, a ''preposterous'' suggestion, ''preposterous'' conduct, a ''preposterous regulation or law.

Synonyms

* foolish, irrational, ridiculous, preposterous, inconsistent, incongruous, ludicrous * See also

Derived terms

* absurdly, absurdity * Absurdistan

Noun

(en noun) (Absurdism)

(obsolete) An absurdity.

(philosophy) The opposition between the human search for meaning in life and the inability to find any; the state or condition in which man exists in an irrational universe and his life has no meaning outside of his existence.

Usage notes

* (philosophy) Absurd is sometimes preceded by the word the .

Derived terms

* theatre of the absurd

References

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