as in inappropriate
showing poor judgment especially in personal relationships or social situations
the company considered his indelicate handling of such a personal matter to be unprofessional
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of indelicate
The phrasing was indelicate, but the idea that Canada lacks a cohesive identity is not a novel proposition.
—
Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 24 Apr. 2025
In its first two seasons, viewers have gone on transcontinental journeys, including an indelicate hotel manager in Hawaii and a strange love square in Italy.
—Shivani Gonzalez, New York Times, 10 Feb. 2025
Advertisement The president-elect’s style — brash, indelicate and pugilistic — is distilled in his son.
—Michelle L. Price, Los Angeles Times, 25 Nov. 2024
The pair also sparred on a more indelicate campaign trail moment.
—Savannah Kuchar, USA TODAY, 20 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for indelicate
Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 24 Apr. 2025
In its first two seasons, viewers have gone on transcontinental journeys, including an indelicate hotel manager in Hawaii and a strange love square in Italy.
—Shivani Gonzalez, New York Times, 10 Feb. 2025
Advertisement The president-elect’s style — brash, indelicate and pugilistic — is distilled in his son.
—Michelle L. Price, Los Angeles Times, 25 Nov. 2024
The pair also sparred on a more indelicate campaign trail moment.
—Savannah Kuchar, USA TODAY, 20 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for indelicate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for indelicate
Adjective
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And if the gifts this year are inappropriate, the fault will rest solely with him.—
Mark Mondier,
Arkansas Online,
19 Oct. 2025
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After Ansari set Being Mortal as his directorial debut in February 2022, also set to star alongside Murray, Deadline reported exclusively that April that Searchlight Pictures had suspended production following allegations of inappropriate behavior against Murray.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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This violation falls under a broader category of improper passing rules, as a driver may not use the shoulder for passing.—
Anna Kleiber,
jsonline.com,
13 Oct. 2025
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Here are some signs to look for and how to fix improper watering to get your plant's health back on the right track.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
12 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Residents complained to the British press about the associated inconvenience, recounting road closures (leading to, gasp, wet crops), bad American driving, and an indiscreet Secret Service presence.—
Jon Allsop,
New Yorker,
15 Aug. 2025
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Hegseth’s indiscreet texts also pose serious intelligence risks.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Tapper believes conservatives were proven correct in their harsh and at times tactless assessments of Biden’s condition, which clearly worsened in 2023 after his son Hunter faced the possibility of a prison sentence when a plea deal on tax and gun charges fell apart.—
Stephen Battaglio,
Los Angeles Times,
20 May 2025
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Ultimately, the film hammers home that this klutzy, tactless new man in town is first and foremost a voyeur — which is where most of the taboo shattering comes in.—
Miriam Balanescu,
IndieWire,
17 May 2025
Adjective
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So maybe use the feelings aroused by your sister-in-law’s thoughtless, certainly injudicious, possibly naughty remark as an opportunity to rise above.—
James Parker,
The Atlantic,
22 Oct. 2024
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Pam Anderson wasn’t a bad girl, per se, just a bit injudicious.—
John Anderson,
WSJ,
7 Dec. 2022
Adjective
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In March 2024, Karen was arrested and charged with a DUI and DWI, negligently driving a vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner endangering property, life, and person, as well as recklessly driving a vehicle in wanton and willful disregard for the safety of persons and property.—
Liza Esquibias,
PEOPLE,
10 Oct. 2025
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Nigeria deserves solidarity in its fight against terror — not careless rhetoric that fuels misunderstanding.—
Jordan King,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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In March 2024, Karen was arrested and charged with a DUI and DWI, negligently driving a vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner endangering property, life, and person, as well as recklessly driving a vehicle in wanton and willful disregard for the safety of persons and property.—
Liza Esquibias,
PEOPLE,
10 Oct. 2025
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Systemic risk: The combination of low interest rates and an expanding economy encourages speculation and imprudent risk taking.—
Hersh Shefrin,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The Beers Criteria, a directory of drugs often deemed inadvisable for older adults, recently published recommendations for alternative medications and nonpharmacological treatments for frequent problems.—
Paula Span,
Miami Herald,
25 Sep. 2025
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Messner’s name would come up repeatedly on Ojos, as a shorthand for either the pure or the inadvisable approach to our expedition.—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
20 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Indelicate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/indelicate. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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