Tactless

/ˈtækt.ləs/

Meaning & Definition

adjective

lacking sensitivity or skills in dealing with others; inconsiderate or blunt.

His tactless comment about her dress made her feel self-conscious.

showing a lack of thoughtfulness or consideration for others' feelings.

The tactless manner in which she delivered the bad news upset everyone in the room.

unskillful in handling social interactions, often leading to awkward or embarrassing situations.

It was tactless of him to bring up her past mistakes in front of the group.

Derived from 'tact' meaning the ability to say the right thing at the right time, with the suffix '-less' indicating the absence of that quality.

tactless remark

A comment that lacks sensitivity and politeness.

tactless behavior

Actions that are inappropriate or without consideration for others' feelings.

tact

The ability to deal with others or handle situations without causing offense.

tactful

Having or showing the ability to say and do the right things in difficult situations.

discretion

The quality of being discreet or careful in one's speech and actions.

socially awkward

His jokes were really tactless and made the whole room feel awkward.

brutally honest

I appreciate honesty, but that was just tactless.