Choose the Right Synonym for tact

tact, address, poise, savoir faire mean skill and grace in dealing with others. tact implies delicate and considerate perception of what is appropriate. questions showing a lack of tact address stresses dexterity and grace in dealing with new and trying situations and may imply success in attaining one's ends. brought it off with remarkable address poise may imply both tact and address but stresses self-possession and ease in meeting difficult situations. answered the accusations with unruffled poise savoir faire is likely to stress worldly experience and a sure awareness of what is proper or expedient. the savoir faire of a seasoned traveler

Do you change tack or tact?

Although some believe the word tact is short for tactics in phrases like "change tact" or "try a different tact," the correct word in such contexts is tack.

Tack in "change tack" and "try a different tack" means "a course or method of action especially when sharply divergent from that previously followed.”

Tack developed this meaning from its nautical applications. In sailing, tack can refer to the direction that a ship or boat is sailing in as it moves at an angle to the direction of the wind; or to a change from one direction to another direction; or to the distance traveled while sailing in a particular direction.

Tack developed the "course or method of action" meaning near the end of the 17th century; within 100 or so years, the phrase "change tack" was being used with the figurative meaning it has today.

While there is also a long history of people using tact where tack belongs, the use is widely shunned by usage guides, which means you might want to avoid it.

Did You Know?

This word came to English directly from French (a Latin-based language), where it can also mean simply "sense of touch". Dealing with difficult situations involving other people can require the kind of extreme sensitivity that our fingertips possess. As Lincoln once said, "Tact is the ability to describe others as they see themselves", which doesn't usually come naturally. Someone tactful can soothe the feelings of the most difficult people; a tactless person will generally make a bad situation worse.

Examples of tact in a Sentence

Far from joining polite society like the debutants of the past, the kids gleefully rip through social graces, alienating friends and sacrificing tact all in the name of creating a VIP room filled with people too young to drive themselves home. — Ana Marie Cox, Time, 24 Apr. 2006 The attorney general's lack of restraint and want of tact, on such an occasion … were clearly symptomatic of a considerable irritation, even rage. — Christopher Hitchens, Harper's, March 2001 In society tact is the great art that makes for civility, for civilization … — Jacques Barzun, From Dawn to Decadance, 2000 He did not clear his throat with badinage, as timidity teaches us to do, nor did he waste his breath with tact. — Earl Shorris, Harper's, September 1997 A man of gentle mien, he is inclined to use psychology and tact, rather than showboat heroics, when pursuing his murder inquiries. — Marilyn Stasio, New York Times Book Review, 1 Jan. 1989 The peace talks required great tact on the part of both leaders. I was surprised by his lack of tact.

Recent Examples on the Web Additionally, the in tact squid fossil allowed researchers to spot that some portion of the belemnite’s soft body had been bitten off by a predator - likely a shark based on the nature of the bite - shortly before the animal perished. — Priya Shukla, Forbes, "Unique Fossil Shows Shark Killed A Squid While It Ate An Ancient Lobster," 23 May 2021 The comeback for Cincinnati kept their perfect record against CF Montreal in tact. — Jayna Bardahl, The Enquirer, "Analysis: Three takeaways from FC Cincinnati's 2-1 win over CF Montreal," 22 May 2021 On one side of the street, the facade of their bookstore had been blown off, exposing an interior with some shelves gutted and others still in tact with pens and paperbacks neatly arrayed. — Washington Post, "In Gaza, a day of relief for some, dismay for others and uncertainty for most," 21 May 2021 If Stanford, one of the richest schools in the country, cuts sports, how could less wealthy universities be expected to keep their programs in tact? — Ann Killion, San Francisco Chronicle, "Stanford will not cut any sports programs, in stunning reversal," 18 May 2021 Landon Howell popped up in foul ground at first, but Hayes Harrison beat the throw home to keep the shutout streak in tact. — al, "Auburn commit Elliott Bray, Hartselle force Game 3 with Oxford in 6A quarterfinals, more scores," 7 May 2021 The Republicans, the party out of power, generally lack Senator Scott’s confidence and tact in making the counter-case. — Andrew C. Mccarthy, National Review, "Race Demagogues Are Poisoning Our Politics," 1 May 2021 Other governors, like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, took a different tact and focused on keeping those with the virus out of nursing homes, even as his state wasn't as locked down as New York or New Jersey. — Tyler Olson, Fox News, "New Jersey GOP candidate for governor aims to make Murphy nursing home order issue in 2021 race," 17 Mar. 2021 And a three-judge panel rejected most of Raja’s key claims without a word, keeping two felony convictions in tact. — Marc Freeman, sun-sentinel.com, "‘No one is above the law’: Ex-cop Nouman Raja loses appeal over killing Corey Jones," 28 Apr. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tact.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.