Tiny mule maybe but awkward (8)
I believe the answer is:
untimely
'awkward' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?
'tiny mule maybe' is the wordplay.
'maybe' is an anagram indicator.
'tiny'+'mule'='tinymule'
'tinymule' anagrammed gives 'UNTIMELY'.
'but' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for untimely that I've seen before include "Of death, coming too early" , "Of death, premature" , "Tiny mule being unsuitable or premature" , "Happening too soon, perhaps like death" , "Premature, too soon" .)