用词源学是分辨 近义词的 一个好方法。

以 clumsy 和 awkward 为例：

Awkward ：Origin:
1300–50; ME, equiv. to awk(e), auk(e) backhanded, OE *afoc (< ON ǫfugr turned the wrong way; c. OS, OHG abuh, OE afu(h)lic wrong, off) + -ward -ward



Clumsy： clumsy

1597, from M.E. clumsid numb with cold, pp. of clumsen to benumb, from O.N. klumsa, intens. of kluma to make motionless.

现在觉得很好分辨了吧。