tactless

adjective

ˈtakt-ləs How to pronounce tactless (audio)
Definition of tactlessnext
as in inappropriate
showing poor judgment especially in personal relationships or social situations made a tactless remark about how the apartment had that "lived-in" look

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 tactless Ultimately, the film hammers home that this klutzy, tactless new man in town is first and foremost a voyeur — which is where most of the taboo shattering comes in. — Miriam Balanescu, IndieWire, 17 May 2025 On the dark side, Mercury in Sagittarius can be overly blunt and tactless in communication. — Valerie Mesa, People.com, 28 Feb. 2025 And his most tactless friend, Justin, the volelike fellow with the baseball-cap addiction, would ask, Whatever happened to that other Laura? — Hannah Gold, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025 The interviews were jocular, an approach that seemed tactless, given the film’s subject matter. — Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for tactless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tactless
  1. inappropriate
  2. indelicate
  3. careless
  4. improper
  5. injudicious
  6. indiscreet
  7. stupid
  8. imprudent
Adjective
  • In some countries, such as Japan, tipping can even be viewed as awkward, inappropriate, and unnecessary as patrons eat, pay the bill, and simply leave.
    — Doug Melville, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
  • Some commenters felt the post was cringeworthy and inappropriate.
    — Richard Johnson, New York Daily News, 5 July 2026
Definition of inappropriate
Adjective
  • Martin-Cotten’s is an indelicate balance between out and out primal furies, parsed with flashes of vulnerability that seem as deeply felt as Martha’s self-loathing.
    — Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Clutch effort is Herculean, and shifting is indelicate but immensely satisfying.
    — Robert Ross, Robb Report, 19 Dec. 2025
Definition of indelicate
Adjective
  • The Most The business owners who get burned in an exit are almost never careless.
    — Lien De Pau, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026
  • Still, multitasking can lead to careless errors, irritability or burnout, so take it easy.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026
Definition of careless
Adjective
  • Also requested were documents related to a lawsuit, recently settled for $135,000, claiming Kramer had given an improper assessment of a property and retaliated against an employee who complained.
    — Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 7 July 2026
  • Thus, the LLCs asserting objections to the alter ego findings as to the trusts were improper.
    — Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
Definition of improper
Adjective
  • And again, many of the reforms backfired or proved injudicious, but some of them remain powerful to this day.
    — David Frum, The Atlantic, 1 July 2026
  • These injudicious, blunt-force tariffs do get undone almost as quickly as they are slapped on, thank heavens.
    — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 25 Jan. 2026
Definition of injudicious
Adjective
  • Smaller seats, less legroom, meals on a budget, and now someone whispering indiscreet sweet nothings to their lover in my ear.
    — Charlie Hobbs, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 May 2026
  • The most successful and lucrative family vlogs are indiscreet almost by definition—and yet the wrong kind of indiscretion can derail the whole gravy train.
    — Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2026
Definition of indiscreet
Adjective
  • Even when Romanzy goes off on how stupid and ugly Caleb is — and gossips that his parents abandoned him because something must be wrong with him — Mary goes along with it.
    — Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 11 July 2026
  • Shockingly, the letter seems to be pushing for a return to standardized tests by, in effect, arguing that a growing percentage of their students are simply too stupid to succeed, no matter what professors do.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
Definition of stupid
Adjective
  • And this is Minsky’s point, that speculative excesses during euphoric, transformative periods result in imprudent financing, fragility, and instability.
    — Hersh Shefrin, Forbes.com, 4 June 2026
  • Additional charges included negligently driving a vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner, endangering property, life, and person, as well as recklessly driving a vehicle in wanton and willful disregard for the safety of persons and property.
    — Diane J. Cho, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026
Definition of imprudent

Browse Nearby Words

tactile
tactless
tactlessly
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Cite this Entry

“Tactless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tactless. Accessed 14 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of tactless for Spanish Speakers

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