Word Frequency
tactless (ˈtæktləs)
Definitions
adjective
- if you describe someone as tactless, you think that what they do is likely to offend
other people ⇒
Some people called him arrogant, tactless and spiteful.
⇒The officer realized he might have been tactless.
- if you describe someone's behaviour or speech as tactless, you think that it is likely to offend other people
Synonyms
View thesaurus entry = insensitive, thoughtless, inconsiderate, sharp, rough, harsh, rude, blundering, careless, clumsy, inept, unkind, gauche, indiscreet, boorish, unfeeling, imprudent, impolite, unsubtle, discourteous, injudicious, indelicate, undiplomatic, uncivil, maladroit, impolitic,
tact (tækt
)
Definitions
noun
- a sense of what is fitting and considerate in dealing with others, so as to avoid giving offence or to win good will; discretion
- skill or judgment in handling difficult or delicate situations; diplomacy
Derived Forms
ˈtactful adjectiveˈtactfully adverb
ˈtactfulness noun
ˈtactless adjective
ˈtactlessly adverb
ˈtactlessness noun
Word Origin
C17: from Latin tactus a touching, from tangere to touchTranslations for 'tactless'
- British English: tactless If you describe someone as tactless, you think what they say or do is likely to offend other people.Throughout his school life he was tactless and self-centred.ˈtæktlɪs ADJECTIVE
- Arabic: غَيْر لَبِق
- Brazilian Portuguese: sem diplomacia
- Chinese: 束手无策的
- Croatian: bez takta
- Czech: netaktní
- Danish: taktløs
- Dutch: tactloos
- European Spanish: falto de tacto falta de tacto
- Finnish: tahditon
- French: indélicat
- German: taktlos
- Greek: χοντροκομμένος χοντροκομμένη
- Italian: indelicato indelicata
- Japanese: 機転のきかない
- Korean: 재치 없는
- Norwegian: taktløs
- Polish: nietaktowny nietaktowna
- Portuguese: sem diplomacia
- Romanian: lipsit de tact lipsit, lipsită, lipsiți, lipsite de tact
- Russian: бестактный бестактная
- Spanish: falto de tacto falta de tacto
- Swedish: taktlös taktlöst
- Thai: ปราศจากยุทธวิธี
- Turkish: patavatsız
- Ukrainian: нетактовний
- Vietnamese: không lịch thiệp
Example Sentences Including 'tactless'
Adrina knew that if asked for, Tamylan's opinion would be as honest as it was tactless.TREASON KEEP (2001)
Arnold-Forster was a tactless minister who was in a hurry to reduce the estimates and solve the recruiting crisis he had inherited.The British way in Warfare - 1688-2000
But son Bryan, 42, said the film from James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, was " tactless.Sun, News of the World (2002)
Caddick can sometimes appear tactless , making insensitive or ill-timed comments.Sun, News of the World (2002)
It is a fact of life that some people are tactless and embarrassing and always manage to say the wrong thing.Spiked
Trevor could hardly bring himself to speak, the whole thing felt so tactless and crass.PROSPECT HILL (2003)
Well, Theo's lovely, but he can be slightly tactless sometimes.RESCUING ROSE (2002)
When next we hear about Swann, he has become a tactless snob.Globe and Mail (2003)
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