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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in rudeness
the quality or state of lacking refinement or good taste
the well-known indelicateness of the comedian's humor made him a poor choice for master of ceremonies
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unfitness
the quality or state of not being socially proper
the indelicateness of the topic makes it a poor choice for dinner conversation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 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
Adjective
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for indelicate
Adjective
-
In the video, Adams accuses the man of being inappropriate with a minor on Grindr, a LGBTQ+ dating and social networking app where the minimum age to make an account is 18.—
Jade Jackson,
IndyStar,
14 Aug. 2025
-
Avoid anything offensive, violent or inappropriate.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
There are times when what appears to be rudeness or laziness could stem from personal struggles or stress.—
Sho Dewan,
Forbes.com,
30 July 2025
-
That rudeness did not go unnoticed, and on Swag, Justin is still airing out their arguments.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
11 July 2025
Adjective
-
The lawsuit alleges faulty CCTV cameras and improper placement prevented the bridge operator from seeing Richard Dujardin.—
Chris Ramirez,
jsonline.com,
13 Aug. 2025
-
According to court documents, Williams would show the child pornography while the improper acts would take place.—
Jade Jackson,
IndyStar,
12 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
Hegseth’s indiscreet texts also pose serious intelligence risks.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
27 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Elizabeth’s reaction to the very public display of disrespect by her son is Emmy-worthy all on its own for Rashad.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
14 Aug. 2025
-
While attempting to address the MTA’s anti-Israel agenda, Jewish guest speakers at board meetings faced blatant disrespect.—
Joanna Honig,
Boston Herald,
8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
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
Adjective
-
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
-
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
-
The 24-year-old man was charged with involuntary manslaughter, careless discharge causing death and a separate firearm charge, officials say.—
Mike Stunson,
Kansas City Star,
4 Aug. 2025
-
The plea deal dropped an additional charge of careless driving resulting in death from his case, court records show.—
Katie Langford,
Denver Post,
2 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Indelicate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/indelicate. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share