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tactfulness

American  
[takt-fuhl-nis] / ˈtækt fəl nɪs /

noun

  1. the quality or skill of handling difficult or delicate situations without giving offense.

    Her promotion was based on her influence and tactfulness in dealing with outside vendors, managers, and subordinates.

    Showing what some would consider a certain lack of tactfulness, he declared that the emperor's pious works were of no value whatsoever.


Etymology

Origin of tactfulness

tactful ( def. ) + -ness ( def. )

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.

See Examples For:

Don’t get me wrong here—I’m sure it’s upsetting to listen to your sister-in-law talk trash about your church and religion, but other than the lack of tactfulness, it’s her right to do so.

From Slate Jun. 22, 2021

They must be greeted with respect, compassion and tactfulness.

From Time Magazine Archive

Yet they are sprinkled with admirable stanzas of natural description, shrewd criticism, delightful humor, and are pervaded by a delicate tactfulness possible only to a man with a genius for friendship.

From Robert Burns How To Know Him by William Allan Neilson

However gifted one may be, he cannot win conspicuous laurels in any calling or avocation, if he be deficient in tactfulness.

From The Writings of Thomas Jefferson Library Edition - Vol. 6 (of 20) by Thomas Jefferson

At any rate she surmised the real reason of my prompt visit to them, and when supper was over, came to my help with something of my own mother's tactfulness.

From Donald McElroy, Scotch Irishman by Willie Walker Caldwell

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