diplomatic

dip·lo·mat·ic

adj \ˌdi-plə-ˈma-tik\

Definition of DIPLOMATIC

1

a : paleographic b : exactly reproducing the original <a diplomatic edition>

2

: of, relating to, or concerned with diplomacy or diplomats <diplomatic relations>

3

: employing tact and conciliation especially in situations of stress

— dip·lo·mat·i·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

Examples of DIPLOMATIC

1. Negotiators are working to restore full diplomatic relations.
2. <a diplomatic attempt at preventing any hurt feelings>

Origin of DIPLOMATIC

in sense 1, from New Latin diplomaticus, from Latin diplomat-, diploma; in other senses, from French diplomatique connected with documents regulating international relations, from New Latin diplomaticus

First Known Use: 1711

Related to DIPLOMATIC

Synonyms: tactful, politic

Antonyms: gauche, impolitic, tactless, undiplomatic, untactful

Related Words: considerate, courteous, delicate, graceful, gracious, thoughtful; civil, mannerly, polite; charming, gallant, genteel, suave; deferential, dutiful, regardful, respectful; affable, cordial, friendly, genial, hospitable, kind, kindhearted

Near Antonyms: discourteous, inconsiderate, indelicate, thoughtless, ungracious; ill-bred, ill-mannered, impolite, uncalled-for, uncivil, unhandsome, unmannered, unmannerly; boorish, brash, brassy, caddish, churlish, clodhopping, clownish, loutish, uncouth; disregardful, disrespectful, impertinent, impudent, insolent, rude

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See Synonym Discussion at suave

Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism

Rhymes with DIPLOMATIC

achromatic, acrobatic, aerobatic, anabatic, antistatic, aromatic, Asiatic, astigmatic, autocratic, automatic, bureaucratic, charismatic, cinematic, democratic, Eleatic, emblematic, enzymatic, Hanseatic, hieratic, Hippocratic, hydrostatic, kerygmatic, kleptocratic, melismatic, mobocratic, monocratic, morganatic, numismatic, operatic, phallocratic, photostatic, plutocratic, pre-Socratic, problematic, programmatic, symptomatic, systematic, technocratic, theocratic, thermostatic, undogmatic, undramatic