tactless

UK: /ˈtæktləs/ US: (takt′lis)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

tact•less  (takt′lis), adj. 

1. lacking tact;
   showing no tact;
   undiplomatic;
   offendingly blunt:
   a tactless remark.

• tact + -less 1840–50

tact′less•ly, adv. 
tact′less•ness, n. 
Synonyms

rude, inconsiderate, thoughtless, brash, boorish.

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

tact /tækt/   n. [uncountable]

1. a sense of what to say or do so as to avoid giving offense:
   Sometimes she has no tact.

tact•ful, adj. 
tact•ful•ly, adv. 
tact•less, adj. 

: a few tactless remarks.

tact•less•ly, adv. 

-tact-, root. 

1. -tact- comes from Latin, where it has the meaning "touch.'' This meaning is found in such words as: contact, intact, tact, tactile.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

tact (takt),  n. 

1. a keen sense of what to say or do to avoid giving offense;
   skill in dealing with difficult or delicate situations.
2. a keen sense of what is appropriate, tasteful, or aesthetically pleasing;
   taste;
   discrimination.
3. touch or the sense of touch.

• Latin tāctus sense of touch, equivalent. to tag-, variant stem of tangere to touch + -tus suffix of verb, verbal action
• 1150–1200

Synonyms

• 1. perception, sensitivity; diplomacy, poise.