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tactless

[takt-lis]
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adjective
  1. lacking tact; showing no tact; undiplomatic; offendingly blunt: a tactless remark.
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Origin of tactless

First recorded in 1840–50; tact + -less
Related formstact·less·ly, adverbtact·less·ness, noun

Synonyms

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rude, inconsiderate, thoughtless, brash, boorish.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

miscuelapserecklessnesserrorgaffemisjudgmentineptitudeignorancedisrespectgooffollyimprudencefoolishnessthoughtlessnesshastinessstupidityslipstumblerashnessgaucherie

Examples from the Web for tactlessness

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • Mrs. Brereton wondered in her own mind where Maud could have got her tactlessness from.

    Scarlet and Hyssop

    E. F. Benson

  • And, as the just reply to tactlessness is truth, also tactless, he let Evelyn have it.

    The Angel of Pain

    E. F. Benson

  • But they were used to tactlessness from Willie, and they merely winked mutually.

  • It was evident that such a state of affairs portended something more serious than tactlessness or mismanagement.

    Wounded and a Prisoner of War

    Malcolm V. (Malcolm Vivian) Hay

  • His isolating and aggressive pride engendered a tactlessness which often spoilt any chances of advancement that came his way.

Word Origin and History for tactlessness

tactless

adj.

1847, from tact + -less. Related: Tactlessly; tactlessness.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper