: having or showing tact
tactfulness
noun
Examples of tactful in a Sentence
He gave a tactful critique of her story.
It was tactful of her not to criticize me in front of my boss.
Recent Examples on the Web
Laura Harrier also recently feminized an oversized button-down with tactful buttoning around the waist.
—
Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 24 Aug. 2023
Smith, who has been with Microsoft since 1993, has earned a reputation as a tactful diplomat in Washington who has succeeded in using Microsoft’s positioning as a friend and partner to regulators to avoid the kind of antitrust oversight other Big Tech firms have dealt with.
—Caroline O'Donovan, Washington Post, 2 June 2022
By contrast, others deride the trend as unprofessional and say there are more tactful ways for unhappy workers to leave their jobs or celebrate making a change.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2023
Thus the it’s-not-you-it’s-me approach, which is tactful, if worn.
—Miss Manners | Judith Martin, Anchorage Daily News, 18 July 2023
Or is there a tactful way to make my differing opinion about these drugs known?
—Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 28 June 2023
Remain tactful, diplomatic and professional even when you’re frustrated.
—Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2022
Gobert, meanwhile, was far less tactful.
—Eric Walden, The Salt Lake Tribune, 3 Dec. 2021
Sure, Bentley could have been more tactful.
—Kyle Whitmire, al, 12 Aug. 2020
See More
Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 24 Aug. 2023
Smith, who has been with Microsoft since 1993, has earned a reputation as a tactful diplomat in Washington who has succeeded in using Microsoft’s positioning as a friend and partner to regulators to avoid the kind of antitrust oversight other Big Tech firms have dealt with.
—Caroline O'Donovan, Washington Post, 2 June 2022
By contrast, others deride the trend as unprofessional and say there are more tactful ways for unhappy workers to leave their jobs or celebrate making a change.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2023
Thus the it’s-not-you-it’s-me approach, which is tactful, if worn.
—Miss Manners | Judith Martin, Anchorage Daily News, 18 July 2023
Or is there a tactful way to make my differing opinion about these drugs known?
—Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 28 June 2023
Remain tactful, diplomatic and professional even when you’re frustrated.
—Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2022
Gobert, meanwhile, was far less tactful.
—Eric Walden, The Salt Lake Tribune, 3 Dec. 2021
Sure, Bentley could have been more tactful.
—Kyle Whitmire, al, 12 Aug. 2020
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tactful.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1864, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near tactful
Cite this Entry
“Tactful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tactful. Accessed 21 Sep. 2023.
Copy Citation
More from Merriam-Webster on tactful
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share