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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Recent Examples of indelicate
The pair also sparred on a more indelicate campaign trail moment.
—
Savannah Kuchar, USA TODAY, 20 Oct. 2024
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
Savannah Kuchar, USA TODAY, 20 Oct. 2024
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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But lingering beneath the surface of his success, Favre had a pattern of inappropriate behavior off the field, including a high-profile tabloid scandal that erupted in 2010, and most recently, the largest case of public fraud in Mississippi’s history.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
21 May 2025
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As the rebel Jen (Michelle Williams) comes to town, and Pacey (Joshua Jackson) carries on an inappropriate relationship with his teacher, that turns out to be the case. 23.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
20 May 2025
Adjective
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Trump, who has painted past legal cases against him as an improper political use of law enforcement, has in a number of instances called for probes of his foes.—
Sarah N. Lynch,
USA Today,
22 May 2025
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The report alleges a range of major violations plaguing St. Hope Public Schools — including conflicts of interests among its top officers, improper use of public funding, deficient accounting processes and the employment of a largely unqualified teaching staff.—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
21 May 2025
Adjective
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Hegseth’s indiscreet texts also pose serious intelligence risks.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
27 Mar. 2025
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If this text had been received by someone hostile to American interests—or someone merely indiscreet, and with access to social media—the Houthis would have had time to prepare for what was meant to be a surprise attack on their strongholds.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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On the dark side, Mercury in Sagittarius can be overly blunt and tactless in communication.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
28 Feb. 2025
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Rian Johnson’s intricate script thrived on detailed dissections of its rich and awful suspects, including plenty of pointed jabs at Hudson’s oblivious model and tactless brand ambassador — two titles Hudson herself has held.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
27 Feb. 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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What The Meng Episode Means (1): Is Huawei A Tool of The CCP? Meng’s release, and injudicious remarks, do not bode well for Huawei.—
George Calhoun,
Forbes,
27 Sep. 2021
Adjective
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Although Hill initially received two tickets for careless driving and not wearing a seat belt, they were dismissed after the officer who cited him didn’t show up to the Miami-Dade traffic hearing.—
C. Isaiah Smalls II,
Miami Herald,
15 May 2025
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Of those fires, 90% were caused by careless human activity, the agency said.—
Caitlin Danaher,
CNN Money,
14 May 2025
Adjective
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Still, in a world where there are not enough safeguards to keep the United States from entering imprudent wars, such legal reforms could serve the twin goals of conflict prevention and democratic accountability.—
Stephen Pomper,
Foreign Affairs,
21 Sep. 2021
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She was officially 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.—
Esther Kang,
People.com,
28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Though magnesium hydroxide is a safe choice to treat temporary constipation symptoms, using too much of it is inadvisable.—
Alex Yampolsky,
Verywell Health,
8 May 2025
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This inadvisable structure will cost city taxpayers an additional $2 billion over the next 30 years than otherwise would have been the case.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Indelicate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/indelicate. Accessed 29 May. 2025.
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