WordGarden.iotactless
C1Pronunciation
UK
- /tˈæktləs/
US
- /ˈtæktləs/
Meanings
Adjective
showing little sensitivity or skill in dealing with people or delicate situations
Beyond the definition
Imagine accidentally telling someone their new haircut looks... interesting when they clearly spent hours on it. That's what this word is about. It means saying or doing something that offends someone, even if you did not mean to be hurtful. A person like this often speaks without thinking and does not notice how their words will sound to other people. They are not always trying to be mean, but their way of speaking can feel awkward, blunt, or badly timed. Sometimes even honest words can feel hurtful when they are said without enough care.
To be tactless means lacking sensitivity and skill when dealing with other people or difficult situations. It is more than simple rudeness; it is a failure to understand what is appropriate to say or do in a given moment. A tactless remark is not always meant to hurt someone's feelings, but it often does because it sounds blunt or insensitive.
The word comes from the idea of "tact," which means knowing how to speak and act in a careful, thoughtful way. Someone may be described this way if they bring up a sensitive topic at the wrong time, give advice that nobody asked for, or make a joke that upsets people instead of making them laugh.
This is not only about what you say, but also about how you say it. A well-meaning question with poor timing or harsh phrasing can easily come across this way. It is often linked to social awkwardness, low empathy, or simply not noticing the mood in the room.
For example: "His tactless comment about her weight made everyone uncomfortable." Or, "While he meant well, his advice during her divorce sounded tactless." It is important to remember that what seems tactless can vary across cultures and social settings. In general, though, the word describes a lack of care, timing, and sensitivity in communication.
Examples
- 1
Personal question
It was tactless to ask her why she was still single.
- 2
Social joke
His tactless joke made the whole room go quiet.
- 3
Email tone
The email wasn’t rude exactly, just tactless.
- 4
Sensitive topic
She later apologized for being tactless about his recent divorce.
- Patterntactless about + sensitive topic
not careful or sensitive when talking about it
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Sales context
In a job like sales, even one tactless comment can cost you a client.
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- tactless remark
- tactless question
- a tactless thing to say
Word family
Explore
- social sensitivity
- bluntness
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- tactlessadjective