diplomatic

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adjective dip·lo·mat·ic \ˌdi-plə-ˈma-tik\

: involving the work of maintaining good relations between the governments of different countries : of or relating to diplomats or their work

: not causing bad feelings : having or showing an ability to deal with people politely

Full 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

One goose, two geese. One moose,
two... moose. What's up with that? »

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

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