as in politic
having or showing tact
tried to be tactful when asked to critique her friend's singing
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tactful
Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2025
Tonight: Check your finances. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) ★★★
Go easy and be tactful today, because your dealings with close friends, spouses and partners might be difficult.
—Georgia Nicols, The Denver Post, 31 Jan. 2025
Being tactful helps to maintain positive relationships and ensures that ideas are communicated without causing unnecessary friction.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
But there’s a tactful way of doing most everything, and that includes quitting in the face of adversity.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 3 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tactful
Adjective
Social media has sabotaged the tactful rule against mentioning social events to people who were not invited.
—Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2025
Tonight: Check your finances. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) ★★★
Go easy and be tactful today, because your dealings with close friends, spouses and partners might be difficult.
—Georgia Nicols, The Denver Post, 31 Jan. 2025
Being tactful helps to maintain positive relationships and ensures that ideas are communicated without causing unnecessary friction.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
But there’s a tactful way of doing most everything, and that includes quitting in the face of adversity.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 3 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tactful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tactful
Adjective
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Yet, while activist evangelical women worked with these groups, Schlafly’s Catholicism limited her ability to reach evangelicals who were more ambivalent about politic involvement.—
Emily Suzanne Johnson / Made By History,
TIME,
3 June 2024
-
That doesn’t always gel with the sardonic remove the writers built into their material, nor the show’s prescient awareness of the sardonic tango of showbiz and politic power, personal branding and the possibility for genuinely populist adoration by those craving relief from being ignored.—
Chris Jones,
chicagotribune.com,
4 Feb. 2022
Noun
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Such a huge cut was intended to kneecap diplomacy, not improve it.—
Frank McNeil,
Sun Sentinel,
11 May 2025
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The ceasefire should last for 30 days to give diplomacy a real chance.—
Joanna Kakissis,
NPR,
10 May 2025
Adjective
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Under the guise of polite party banter, the two trade barbs, each speaking on behalf of their respective cause.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
EW.com,
3 May 2025
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To many observers, Modi’s success stemmed from his willingness to play on profound resentments, which for decades had been considered offensive to voice in polite society.—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
This is not so much a question of good manners as good visibility.—
Judith Martin,
Sun Sentinel,
15 Mar. 2025
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Leighton said being respectful of the flight crew, keeping your stuff in order, disposing of your trash responsibly, and just generally minding your manners make the flying experience more pleasant for everyone.—
Zach Wichter,
USA TODAY,
12 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The president has set his sights on including Saudi Arabia in the Abraham Accords, which was his first-term signature series of bilateral diplomatic accords.—
Jennifer Jacobs,
CBS News,
2 May 2025
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A week after a deadly terrorist attack in Kashmir, diplomatic efforts to ease rising tensions between India and Pakistan have ramped up, as global jitters grow over the possibility of a military confrontation between the nuclear-armed neighbors.—
Anupreeta Das,
New York Times,
1 May 2025
Noun
-
Back to third in the Premier goes Newcastle United, Champions League aims in tact.—
Harry De Cosemo,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2025
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This may be a function of his trademark persistence rather than of tact.—
Jonathan Blitzer,
The New Yorker,
10 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The fans have been quite respectful about not giving out spoilers.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
1 May 2025
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Western Medicine Has a Different Perspective While respectful of other cultures’ traditions and belief systems, many practitioners of conventional Western medicine do not see any special benefit from navel oiling.—
Justin Laube,
EverydayHealth.com,
28 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Rather than seeing her emotional sensitivity as a liability, Post uses therapeutic work to transform it into a business asset. ForbesWomen: Get the ForbesWomen newsletter, and supercharge your mission with success stories, tips and more.—
Megan Bruneau,
Forbes.com,
8 May 2025
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Children: Children have a higher sensitivity to chlorella and spirulina than adults.—
Anna Giorgi,
Verywell Health,
8 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tactful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tactful. Accessed 15 May. 2025.
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