impolitic
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of impolitic
Explanation
If you've ever put your foot in your mouth, you've probably said something impolitic. If you have made an impolitic statement, it was a politically unwise one. It is impolitic to fail to remember flowers for your beloved on Valentine's Day, or to fail to show up in class when your grade point average is hanging by a thread. Remember back in 1981 when then U.S. Secretary of State Alexander Haig informed the press after the assassination attempt on President Reagan that "I am in control here?" Well that was a classic impolitic statement. Poor guy resigned the following year.
Vocabulary lists containing impolitic
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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Declaration and Resolves of the First Continental Congress
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Pride and Prejudice
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But this is where Jamil, perhaps in an impolitic way, is making a point that is both true and uncomfortable.
From Salon ● Aug. 5, 2026
His impolitic remark is seen now as a dark reflection on the national-security trap AI was about to fall into.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 16, 2026
This wild and impolitic work startled civilized Parisian salons with what sounded like sheer ugliness.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 1, 2025
It was rather impolitic for him to say, and President Zelensky was very upset about it.
From Slate ● Jan. 5, 2024
Fortunately for the general situation, Kallner felt it impolitic to display his anger openly.
From "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
