TACTFULNESS Synonyms: 58 Similar and Opposite Words

tactfulness

noun

Definition of tactfulness

as in diplomacy

the ability to deal with others in touchy situations without offending them the tactfulness with which the secretary of state handled the diplomatic crisis was commendable

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for tactfulness

Noun

Witkoff and Kushner began their whirlwind weekend of diplomacy with a three-hour meeting with Putin at the Kremlin on Saturday afternoon.

— Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026
But no president has appeared to so directly link diplomacy to his own economic interests, according Patrick Shea, a professor of international relations and global governance at the University of Glasgow, Scotland.

— Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of diplomacy

Noun

Maybe the South doesn’t brag about its blazing fall colors (because that’s just bad manners), but Southern gardeners can enjoy autumn splendor every bit as lovely as the sugar maples in Vermont or the aspens in the Rockies.

— Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 12 Sep. 2026
The desire to fit in is a powerful instinct, one that is externalized to varying degrees in our manners and relationships.

— E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of manners

Noun

On the greatest night of his greatest coaching feat, Sarkisian acted without grace or a shred of tact.

— Candace Buckner, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
His effortless confidence and surprising tact with women of all ages continually subvert what audiences (and his father Hank) think of him.

— Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of tact

Noun

Now Jackie has red contact lenses that help with her extreme sensitivity to bright light, like ordinary daylight.

— Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026
Veterinarian Kelly Hood adds that dogs with skin or respiratory sensitivities are especially vulnerable to irritation.

— Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of sensitivity

Noun

In World Cup lore, however, his gallantry is doomed to be overshadowed by that of his fellow-goalkeeper from Cabo Verde, Vozinha, who had already produced an uncanny impersonation of a brick wall on the fourth day of the tournament.

— Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 17 July 2026
In all of these cases, the effect is largely the same—forging intimacy through some level of generosity or gallantry, coupled with pure, physical proximity—and in 2026, all of them are still technically possible.

— Sara Delgado, Vogue, 9 July 2026

Definition of gallantry

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tactfully

tactfulness

tactic

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“Tactfulness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tactfulness. Accessed 21 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of tactfulness

noun

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