Synonym Chooser

How is the word politic different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of politic are bland, diplomatic, smooth, suave, and urbane. While all these words mean "pleasantly tactful and well-mannered," politic implies shrewd as well as tactful and suave handling of people.

a cunningly politic manager

When could bland be used to replace politic?

The synonyms bland and politic are sometimes interchangeable, but bland emphasizes mildness of manner and absence of irritating qualities.

a bland master of ceremonies

When is diplomatic a more appropriate choice than politic?

While the synonyms diplomatic and politic are close in meaning, diplomatic stresses an ability to deal with ticklish situations tactfully.

a diplomatic negotiator

When might smooth be a better fit than politic?

The words smooth and politic are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, smooth suggests often a deliberately assumed suavity.

a smooth salesman

When can suave be used instead of politic?

In some situations, the words suave and politic are roughly equivalent. However, suave suggests a specific ability to deal with others easily and without friction.

a suave public relations coordinator

When is it sensible to use urbane instead of politic?

While in some cases nearly identical to politic, urbane implies high cultivation and poise coming from wide social experience.

an urbane traveler

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of politic Again, the park ranger pondered the most politic response. Jesse Ashlock, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Mar. 2022 That doesn’t always gel with the sardonic remove the writers built into their material, nor the show’s prescient awareness of the sardonic tango of showbiz and politic power, personal branding and the possibility for genuinely populist adoration by those craving relief from being ignored. Chris Jones, chicagotribune.com, 4 Feb. 2022 But some of those friends were decidedly less politic when contacted by a reporter. New York Times, 16 Oct. 2021 Austin, the retired general with the little flag pin on his suit lapel, was the more politic witness. Washington Post, 28 Sep. 2021 See All Example Sentences for politic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for politic
Adjective
  • As the face of Pyongyang's diplomatic outreach for years, Kim Yong Nam played a central role in projecting North Korean state policy to the wider world—even as real power remained firmly with the Kim dynasty itself.
    Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
  • Beijing has long been irked by Washington’s unofficial relationship with Taipei, and the island often features in high-level diplomatic conversations between the two sides.
    Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The prudent way forward ought then to be to read today’s many swirling war stories with greater acuity—or even to learn how to write an altogether different story.
    Elizabeth D. Samet, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
  • This aligns with research showing that rural social identity predicts skepticism of external experts, illustrating a rural orientation toward prudent distrust.
    Scott R. Schell, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • There is polite applause as Cristian Romero cushions a ball from the sky.
    Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
  • Being polite and understanding how to function around a group of people, being open and friendly.
    Liza Esquibias, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The work accomplished at Silent Swarm 2025, along with technology such as the TEEMS device, illustrates how the company is architecting the advantage for today’s performance and tomorrow’s success along the tactical edge.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 9 Nov. 2025
  • Perez does not break down training into physical and tactical work, instead designing complex exercises so players build fitness while practising real-game situations.
    Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The atmosphere in the State Dining Room remained respectful, but resistance to the president’s proposal lingered.
    Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Chad Peipho, another acquaintance of Knowlton, described him as a respectful, nice kid.
    David Chiu, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The military plays only an advisory role in the American system, giving input to the president’s deliberations but not otherwise independently adjudicating whether his or her decision is wise.
    Peter D. Feaver, Foreign Affairs, 12 Nov. 2025
  • Kyle Dubas made a very wise move by signing Mantha, who fits in very nicely with this group and is playing high-level hockey.
    Josh Yohe, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Heather, who normally is good at playing this game and tactful while making risky moves like this, seems to have had just enough to drink to lose that tact.
    Tom Smyth, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Others, like Lakosky and Drury, have taken slightly more tactful approaches.
    Will Brantley, Outdoor Life, 29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • And for traveling aesthetes, great-looking new hotels, restaurants, wineries, and galleries might make the Algarve even more desirable.
    Chadner Navarro, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2025
  • Egypt and Sudan have competing maps of the border, but because of the crisscrossing of those boundaries, Bir Tawil would belong to whichever nation relinquished its claim on a larger, more desirable area.
    Richard Collett, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2025

Cite this Entry

“Politic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/politic. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on politic

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