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

His lack of road diplomacy—his road rage—is heightened to psychopathic degrees and puts everyone in his path at risk.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Oct. 2026
The two leaders framed their decision as part of efforts to influence diplomacy aimed at ending the war, which are being largely led by Washington.

— Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of diplomacy

Noun

These rules span what Americans would sort into law, ethics, manners and worship, as law professor and an authority on Islamic law Asifa Quraishi-Landes has explained.

— Asma Uddin, The Conversation, 29 Oct. 2026
Many teach-abroad programs where people can teach English as a foreign language in Thailand cite that smiling often with children and colleagues is key to showing respect, good manners and calmness.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of manners

Noun

These give the driver real-time control over accelerator pedal sensitivity, wheel slip thresholds (with nine traction settings) and cornering agility.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2026
The authors concluded that improved laboratory sensitivity and statistical methods could help agencies better interpret drinking-water monitoring results.

— Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 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 3 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of tactfulness

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

candidate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'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

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes