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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tactfulness
Noun
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When asked about options for engaging with Iranian leadership, 38% favored negotiating with Tehran through diplomacy.—
March 2,
CBS News,
2 Mar. 2026 -
The mayor cautioned that military action taken without congressional authorization sets a dangerous precedent and urged efforts to restore stability through diplomacy rather than further violence.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
1 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Judith Martin's Miss Manners column has chronicled the continuous rise and fall of American manners since 1978.—
Judith Martin,
Dallas Morning News,
28 Feb. 2026
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The manners by which stories of heroes were conveyed in antiquity were not so unlike the comic books, movies and TV shows, games, and high-profile PR events of the Marvel Universe.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Electricity, water and gas supplies to the city are still in tact, and there are no food shortages, though prices, which were already sky-high, are creeping up.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
4 Mar. 2026
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One night in Indianapolis, before a team dinner with the coaching staff and personnel department, an assistant coach complimented Brzezinski’s tact in conversations.—
Alec Lewis,
New York Times,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Adding to the turbulence is Korea's sensitivity to energy prices.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
6 Mar. 2026
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Shaynak was impressed with the sensitivity of Sachs’s final script.—
Marah Eakin,
Vulture,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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There’s a quixotic gallantry to appealing to a saner conservative and looking ahead to a post-Trump American politics.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
14 Aug. 2025
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Queen Elizabeth later awarded Beaton the George's Cross, Britain’s highest civilian award for gallantry, for his role in saving her daughter’s life, and bestowed honors on Callender, as well as the other policemen and onlookers who intervened.—
Bailey Richards,
People.com,
2 Aug. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Tactfulness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tactfulness. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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