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
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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
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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
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Satisfied that there may have indeed been inappropriate action on the part of the veteran Karate Kid actor, Sony addressed Kove directly.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
26 June 2025
-
Walking the Talk as a Role Model Too many leaders assume organizational rules don't apply to them, creating double standards and rationalizing inappropriate behavior.—
Joseph Folkman,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2025
Noun
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Their silence comes off as rudeness, for which Betty rebukes them after dinner.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
17 May 2025
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While civility is sorely lacking in politics, two other areas are known for rudeness as well — the workplace and the schools, at all levels.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Before then, an officer could only cite you for using your phone after you had been pulled over for another offense, such as speeding or an improper lane change.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
20 June 2025
-
In 2023, auditors found A1’s Frederick County branch engaged in improper scheduling and monitoring.—
Glynis Kazanjian,
Baltimore Sun,
18 June 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
Noun
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Despite the disrespect, the Packers' head coach is simply focused on winning.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 June 2025
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In a sit-down interview, Goldberg said the amount of disrespect Gunther had for Goldberg was unreal.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
23 June 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
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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
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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The problem isn’t that general providers are careless, but that their systems and staff simply aren’t built for these edge cases.—
Ari Raptis,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2025
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When businesses are careless and people get hurt, those businesses should be held accountable.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
3 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Indelicate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/indelicate. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.
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