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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tactfulness

Noun

The Iranian trade office on Friday called the agreement with Oman part of Tehran's broader push to strengthen economic ties with regional partners through trade diplomacy and improved logistics infrastructure.

— Khaled Wassef, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
Trump’s earlier diplomacy with Kim Jong Un collapsed in 2019 due to disputes over how much sanctions relief North Korea should be given in return for dismantling its main nuclear complex, a limited denuclearization step.

— Hyung-Jin Kim, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of diplomacy

Noun

Beneath Lamb’s unkempt appearance, crude manners, noxious flatulence, and stinging remarks lies one of the sharpest minds in MI5 and a man fiercely protective of his brood of misfits.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 17 Aug. 2026
From being able to host an impeccable event at a moment’s notice to showing graciousness in every circumstance to having an impressively clean and organized home, manners and poise come to mind.

— Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of manners

Noun

The same moral tact might apply, in less histrionic matters, to the ordinary deceptions and silences by which social life is made bearable.

— Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026
Venus in your 10th House of Career trines Pluto early on, helping your reputation, influence, or strategic relationships strengthen through tact and substance.

— Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of tact

Noun

Maybe that’s because of the rollback of climate-change policies in Washington, a backlash against ESG or sensitivity about the growing emissions toll of AI.

— Diane Brady, Fortune, 17 Aug. 2026
The resulting mix of companies' labor intensity and AI sensitivity yields a list of productivity beneficiaries within the Russell 1000.

— Tobias Burns, CNBC, 17 Aug. 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

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.

Browse Nearby Words

tactfully

tactfulness

tactic

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Tactfulness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tactfulness. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of tactfulness

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

expeditious

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes