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tactless

[ takt-lis ]

/ ˈtækt lɪs /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR tactless ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

lacking tact; showing no tact; undiplomatic; offendingly blunt: a tactless remark.

QUIZZES

DON’T VACILLATE! VANQUISH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

It’d be a real faux pas to miss this quiz on the words from August 3–9, 2020!

Question 1 of 7

What does “vacillate” mean?

to waver in mind or opinion; be indecisive or irresolute.

to cause to be empty or unoccupied.

to assent tacitly; agree; consent.

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Origin of tactless

First recorded in 1840–50; tact + -less

SYNONYMS FOR tactless

rude, inconsiderate, thoughtless, brash, boorish.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR tactless ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM tactless

tact·less·ly, adverbtact·less·ness, noun

Words nearby tactless

tactile hair, tactile image, tactile meniscus, tactile papilla, taction, tactless, tactometer, tactoreceptor, tactual, tactus, Tacubaya

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for tactless

And if Lennon was tactless, McCartney was a natural diplomat.
What It Was Like to Watch the Beatles Become the Beatles—Nik Cohn Remembers|Nik Cohn|February 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Was it the tactless non-invitation to Queen Elizabeth II to the D-Day commemoration?
Why Obama Dodged Sarkozy|Eric Pape|June 6, 2009|DAILY BEAST
Once in a great while, a tactless person may have no better sense than to ask her abruptly for whom she is in mourning!
Etiquette|Emily Post
One of the first of these acts serves well to illustrate the reckless and tactless character of the man.
The Trial of Jesus from a Lawyer's Standpoint, Vol. II (of II)|Walter M. Chandler

The other ladies looked at one another, and the speaker, realizing that she had been tactless, stopped abruptly.
The Hand in the Dark|Arthur J. Rees
Harry knew the rector's tactless way too well to be affronted now by any remark he might make or any question he might ask.
The Vicissitudes of Bessie Fairfax|Harriet Parr
It was a situation for a bit of merciful diplomacy, but Bartrow the tactless blundered on remorselessly.
The Helpers|Francis Lynde

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