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Untactful: meaning, definitions and examples

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untactful

 

[ ʌnˈtæktfəl ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

social interactions

Untactful describes a lack of sensitivity or tact when dealing with others. It often refers to someone who may unintentionally offend or hurt feelings due to their bluntness or lack of discretion. This trait can lead to uncomfortable situations in personal or professional relationships. Being untactful is not necessarily a deliberate action; it may stem from ignorance or a straightforward demeanor that does not take into account the nuances of social cues.

Synonyms

blunt, indelicate, insensitive, tactless.

Examples of usage

  • His untactful comments made everyone feel uncomfortable at the dinner.
  • She was known for her untactful approach to criticism, often leaving her colleagues upset.
  • It's important to be tactful in discussions about sensitive topics, but he was rather untactful.
  • Her untactful way of addressing the issue hurt many people's feelings.

Translations

Translations of the word "untactful" in other languages:

🇵🇹 desajeitado

🇮🇳 असहज

🇩🇪 taktlos

🇮🇩 tak beretika

🇺🇦 недипломатичний

🇵🇱 nietaktowny

🇯🇵 無神経な

🇫🇷 maladroit

🇪🇸 falto de tacto

🇹🇷 taktiksiz

🇰🇷 무례한

🇸🇦 غير لبق

🇨🇿 netaktický

🇸🇰 netaktický

🇨🇳 不得体的

🇸🇮 netaktičen

🇮🇸 óviðeigandi

🇰🇿 тәртіпсіз

🇬🇪 არადიპლომატიური

🇦🇿 nizamsız

🇲🇽 falto de tacto

Etymology

The term untactful is derived from the prefix 'un-', which means 'not', combined with 'tactful', itself originating from the word 'tact'. Tact comes from the Latin 'tactus', meaning 'touch', and emerged in English in the early 19th century to describe a sensitivity in dealing with others. The negative prefix transforms the meaning to indicate a lack of this sensitivity. As social norms evolve and the importance of emotional intelligence becomes more apparent, the term is increasingly relevant in conversations about interpersonal communication.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #42,570, this word is among the least frequently used in common English. Understanding it can be beneficial for comprehensive language mastery, but it's not essential for most learners.