WordValetactful
sensitive in dealing with others
In more detail
1. (adjective) careful and diplomatic in what you say or do so that you don't upset or offend people
2. (adjective) showing sensitivity and good judgment in dealing with difficult situations
Examples
- 1. She gave a tactful response to her friend's new haircut instead of being cruel.
- 2. A tactful manager addresses employee mistakes in private rather than in front of others.
How to use tactful
Tactful describes someone who is skilled at saying or doing difficult things without causing offense or hurt feelings. It emphasizes both awareness of others' feelings and the ability to manage sensitive situations smoothly. It is more refined than synonyms like diplomatic (which can suggest calculation) and more broadly applicable than discreet (which focuses on keeping confidences).
Common phrases
- tactful approach
- tactful way
- tactful reminder
- tactful handling of
- remain tactful
Synonyms
diplomatic · discreet · delicate · considerate · sensitive
Opposites
tactless · insensitive · blunt
Word family
tactfully (adverb) · tactfulness (noun) · tactless (adjective) · tact (noun)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes use tactful when they mean tact (the noun), writing 'with tactful' instead of 'with tact' in phrases like 'handle it with tact'.
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