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tact

tact

26 3.5
To say or do things carefully so you do not upset other people
  • noun
  • /tækt/
translation icon : tacto
  • To be a successful negotiator, it is essential to approach discussions with tact and sensitivity.
  • patience and tact
  • tact and reserve
  • tact and judgment

He tells us that frankness, does it actually have room for tact?

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Examples

  • But we have to propose it with tact.

  • This calls for tact, sensitivity, and diplomacy.

  • Their books were all the more effective for being done with tact and reserve.

    Academic text (2009)
  • On the other hand, you need all his tact and sensitivity.

  • I managed it, but it required considerable tact.

  • As usual, good sense and tact are needed in deciding when and how to make follow-up phone calls.

    Academic text (1991)
  • His knack for prescribing the right book was of a piece with the tact that marked his conversation.

    Academic text (1991)
  • Margie was the first woman to take on this role, and by all accounts she demonstrated enormous tact, discretion, and loyalty along with her great intelligence.

  • A private citizen of well-documented industry and tact who might carry out inquiries on the Academy's behalf.

  • She handled the difficult conversation with great tact to avoid hurting anyone's feelings.

Synonyms

finesse
vstact
35 6.8

Careful, skilled handling of a difficult or sensitive situation

leans more on careful technique than on broad social ease
delicacy
vstact
12 5.8

Skill and care when dealing with people or difficult situations

stresses speaking and acting to prevent upsetting others
savoir-faire
vstact
3 9.5

To act or speak in the right way in social situations

is centered on preventing offence rather than showing general social polish
tactfulness
vstact
4.9

Careful and kind behavior when dealing with people to avoid hurting them

is the personal ability to act without upsetting other people
2.8

Being calm and careful when dealing with difficult or sensitive situations

adds patient calm to the effort to avoid upsetting people
delicateness
vstact
5.3

Careful, gentle way of dealing with people or difficult situations

is specifically the practical ability to avoid upsetting other people

Antonyms

27 1.8

Lack of politeness or respect for other people

A lack of care for other people's feelings or social rules

Compounds

Being calm and careful when dealing with difficult or sensitive situations

How Tactful

discretion
57 4.6
tact
26 3.5
insensitivity
16 5.5
rudeness
27 1.8

Surface Forms

tact singular
tacts plural

Etymology

The word tact comes from the Latin word tactus, from tangere, which means 'touch', and you can see the same idea in everyday words like contact and tactile. So having tact is like using a gentle 'touch' in what you say or do to avoid upsetting people.