as in physical
formal
relating to the sense of touch
The thick brushstrokes give the painting a tactile quality. visual and tactile experiences
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tactile
Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and VW have all announced plans to return to more tactile controls, and US and EU regulators announced last year that cars with touchscreen controls could get worse safety ratings.
—
Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 5 Jan. 2026
Cast entirely in natural beeswax, the candlestick has a tactile, slightly imperfect quality that only real material can offer.
—Hannah Coates, Vogue, 4 Jan. 2026
That moment really opened my eyes to how this tactile process of image making with sunlight, chemistry and kelp could translate my experiences underwater by illustrating both the scale and the incredible details of the kelp forest.
—Michael James Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
The interior finishes are restrained and tactile, emphasizing natural tones, while also blending in with the natural setting.
—New Atlas, 3 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tactile
Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 5 Jan. 2026
Cast entirely in natural beeswax, the candlestick has a tactile, slightly imperfect quality that only real material can offer.
—Hannah Coates, Vogue, 4 Jan. 2026
That moment really opened my eyes to how this tactile process of image making with sunlight, chemistry and kelp could translate my experiences underwater by illustrating both the scale and the incredible details of the kelp forest.
—Michael James Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
The interior finishes are restrained and tactile, emphasizing natural tones, while also blending in with the natural setting.
—New Atlas, 3 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tactile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tactile
Adjective
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So commences a night of harrowing encounters and trauma both physical and mental, starting with Ron and Mike’s trip to meet Oliver at a bar after one of his shows.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Perez does not break down training into physical and tactical work, instead designing complex exercises so players build fitness while practising real-game situations.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
And at least that threat is tangible.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Jan. 2026
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The United States has sought to mediate, holding meetings as recently as Sunday, though those talks ended without tangible results.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tactile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tactile. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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