Choose the word most similar in meaning to the given word: Awkward A. Inept B. Graceful C. Suitable D. Dreadful

GATE 2015 · General Aptitude · Synonyms · medium

Answer: A. Inept

1. Define 'awkward': 'Awkward' means clumsy, lacking skill, or causing difficulty. Key senses: (1) clumsy in movement, (2) lacking social grace, (3) difficult to handle.
2. Evaluate each option: A. Inept — means lacking skill or competence: MATCHES awkward's sense of being unskillful. B. Graceful — means elegant and smooth: ANTONYM of awkward. C. Suitable — means appropriate or fitting: ANTONYM of the 'inappropriate' sense of awkward. D. Dreadful — means very bad or terrible: unrelated to the core meaning of clumsiness.
3. Select the answer: A. Inept is the synonym for 'awkward'.