tactical

adjective

ˈtak-ti-kəl How to pronounce tactical (audio)
Definition of tacticalnext
as in prudent
suitable for bringing about a desired result under the circumstances made the tactical move of becoming friendly with the journalism teacher, hoping that this would get him appointed editor of the school newspaper

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of tactical Officers executed a search warrant at one of their homes and found a gel bead gun (also known as an Orbeez gun), a tactical vest, and a hockey-style mask. — Tom Ignudo, CBS News, 12 Oct. 2026 This would provide some interesting tactical options for the Navy, especially for conflicts with rivals, like China. — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 11 Oct. 2026 The handwritten observations, shared with ProPublica, span 13 days and chart a steady escalation by DHS, culminating in an elite tactical team that blocked tribal authorities from issuing trespassing citations to contractors or removing them. — Ryan Devereaux, ProPublica, 10 Oct. 2026 Not postseason punishment, just tactical moves based on opposing pitching. — ABC News, 9 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tactical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tactical
  1. prudent
  2. desirable
  3. wise
  4. possible
  5. politic
Adjective
  • The Royals still must try to be prudent in fixing their relief unit.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Payton will certainly want to prove his decision to take over play-calling from offensive coordinator Davis Webb was a prudent one.
    — Sam Jane, Denver Post, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of prudent
Adjective
  • Perennials Many perennials offer colorful flowers during the growing season, but a select group creates both color and desirable food for birds in the winter.
    — Karen Hugg, Washington Post, 11 Oct. 2026
  • For generations, the series showed, white men had dominated the department, while Black and women firefighters had been ostracized and put in danger, shut out of the most desirable fire stations and passed over for promotions.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of desirable
Adjective
  • Maybe there’s an equilibrium that must be restored on this show, relationship-wise.
    — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Anthropic updates its policies to bar users being cruel to Claude, inflaming a debate about whether the company’s concern for ‘model welfare’ is wise.
    — Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of wise
Adjective
  • The students who stepped forward when their teacher collapsed playing basketball in Michigan illustrate what becomes possible when CPR skills are taught before they are needed.
    — Meng Yang, Time, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The film team had to come up with a strategy to capture as much as possible without interfering with Schnell’s challenge.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of possible
Adjective
  • Coaxing out his talents fell to a more politic peer.
    — Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 22 June 2026
  • What’s depicted focuses on the advances these early feminists made at the school and in society, and the personal tensions between the relentlessly radical Marks and the more politic Woolley.
    — Manuel Mendoza, Dallas Morning News, 19 Feb. 2026
Definition of politic

Browse Nearby Words

tactic
tactical
tactics
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Cite this Entry

“Tactical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tactical. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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