as in politic
having or showing tact
tried to be tactful when asked to critique her friend's singing
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Recent Examples of tactful
Coach Erik Spoelstra was a bit more tactful while offering similar sentiment.
—
Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 21 Jan. 2026
Please advise me on a tactful way to address this dear woman.
—Jeanne Phillips, Dallas Morning News, 5 Jan. 2026
Heather, who normally is good at playing this game and tactful while making risky moves like this, seems to have had just enough to drink to lose that tact.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2025
Others, like Lakosky and Drury, have taken slightly more tactful approaches.
—Will Brantley, Outdoor Life, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tactful
Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 21 Jan. 2026
Please advise me on a tactful way to address this dear woman.
—Jeanne Phillips, Dallas Morning News, 5 Jan. 2026
Heather, who normally is good at playing this game and tactful while making risky moves like this, seems to have had just enough to drink to lose that tact.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2025
Others, like Lakosky and Drury, have taken slightly more tactful approaches.
—Will Brantley, Outdoor Life, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tactful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tactful
Adjective
-
What’s depicted focuses on the advances these early feminists made at the school and in society, and the personal tensions between the relentlessly radical Marks and the more politic Woolley.—
Manuel Mendoza,
Dallas Morning News,
19 Feb. 2026
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Florida has had enough of pettiness, politic stunts and petulance.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Is there a polite way to ask her to address this, short of shouting or splashing?—
Judith Martin,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Apr. 2026
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Your polite fences invite stronger, healthier collaborations in the future.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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As was the case with the white-and-green dress for her Pakistan tour, Elizabeth, in her fashion choices, sought not only to avoid giving offense but to offer symbolic ingratiation, and among the most fascinating garments on display are those representing diplomatic dressing.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2026
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Israel and Lebanon have technically been at war since Israel was established in 1948, and Lebanon remains deeply divided over diplomatic engagement with Israel.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Meanwhile, Livesey’s arguments have been met with respectful—and, to this amateur reader, persuasive—rebuttals by several fellow-scholars, most formidably by Fredriksen and Walsh.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
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Her boyfriend is sometimes, but not always, respectful or courteous to us.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tactful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tactful. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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