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tactless

tactless

5 4.9
Showing no care for other people's feelings when speaking or acting
  • adjective
  • /ˈtæktləs/
translation icon : falto de tacto
  • His tactless comments about her appearance really hurt her feelings.
  • tactless comment
  • quite tactless
  • so tactless

This is the most tactless speech I have ever heard.

Examples

  • Both Rich and his mother had this tendency to ask tactless questions.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • - Mr. Emerson is so tactless.

  • This is the most tactless speech I have ever heard.

  • Well, once we were in the room, he started coming on to me in this really tactless way.

  • People often think I am tactless and rude.

  • She'd thought that was tactless and told him so.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • But I call your attention to the tactless manner in which the generals were informed of their error.

    Academic text (2004)
  • We've been tactless, I'm afraid.

  • How tactless of me.

  • Anyway, calling Stef out was tactless and needlessly cruel, and dangerously close to being actionable.

    Blog text (16)

Synonyms

insensitive
vstactless
124 4.6

Not showing care for other people's feelings or needs

is specifically about failing to handle sensitive situations with care
thoughtless
vstactless
37 4.0

Not caring about how your words or actions may hurt others

is about lacking finesse specifically when dealing with sensitive topics
inconsiderate
vstactless
36 4.1

Not caring about other people's feelings or needs

instead highlights causing offense through poor handling of delicate situations
offhand
vstactless
7 6.9

Showing little care or interest in a casual way

is focused on failing to show sensitivity in delicate interpersonal moments
tone-deaf
vstactless
  • Offensive
6 7.7

Not aware of other people's feelings or reactions

is less about missing cues and more about blunt handling of sensitive matters
untactful
vstactless
7.2

Not careful about other people's feelings when you speak or act, making others feel bad

is the same idea phrased as the common adjective for that fault
solecistic
vstactless
9.9

Showing bad manners that make others uncomfortable

focuses instead on causing offense in delicate personal situations
highly insensitive
vstactless
5.5

Being very uncaring about other people's feelings

is similar but milder in degree of insensitivity
tone-deaf to others' feelings
vstactless
  • Offensive
8.4

Not able or willing to notice how other people feel

is broader, covering all insensitive actions in delicate contexts

Antonyms

11 4.0

Being careful and polite when speaking to avoid hurting people

How Tactful

diplomatic
114 4.4
tactful
11 4.0
tactless
5 4.9
rude
594 1.0

Surface Forms

tactless positive

Morphology

tactless = tact (transparent) = tact + less

The word is transparently derived from 'tact' with the addition of the suffix '-less', indicating the absence of tact.

Etymology

Tactless comes from tact, which comes from a root meaning 'to touch', plus the ending -less meaning 'without'. So someone who is tactless has no 'touch' for other people's feelings and can seem insensitive or rude.