1. clownish Awkward, from awk (kindred with off, from the Norwegian), is off-ward, turned the wrong way; it was anciently used of a back-handed or left-handed blow in battle, of squinting eyes, etc. Clu Synonyms: awkward, boorish, clumsy, rough, unhandy, bungling, gawky, uncouth, unskilful, clownish, maladroit, ungainly Antonyms: adroit, clever, dexterous, handy, skilful, absurdity, contradiction, demonstration, nonsense, paradox, sophism