tactful

/ˈtæktfl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈtæktfl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈtakt-fəl/ (ame, mw)

tactful — adjective

  • tactfulpositive
  • more tactfulcomparative
  • most tactfulsuperlative

1. Someone who is tactful speaks and acts in a gentle, careful way when dealing wit

1.形容詞B2
釋義

Someone who is tactful speaks and acts in a gentle, careful way when dealing with sensitive topics, so that no one feels offended or embarrassed.

例句

Mei-Lin was tactful when explaining the mistake to her manager, focusing on solutions.

tactful when + gerund phrase

Kwame gave a tactful answer that made his classmates feel included in the discussion.

collocation: tactful answer

同義詞
  • diplomatic

    more formal; often used in professional or political contexts

  • considerate

    focuses on thoughtfulness and kindness in general, not only in difficult conversations

  • sensitive

    emphasises awareness of others' feelings, but can also mean easily offended

  • polite

    broader term covering basic good manners in everyday interactions

反義詞
  • tactless

    opposite meaning; saying exactly what one thinks without regard for feelings

  • blunt

    direct to the point of being rude or insensitive

  • rude

    more general term for disrespectful behaviour

用法筆記

Commonly used before nouns describing speech or behaviour, such as 'answer', 'reply', 'way', 'approach', 'silence', and 'manner'. Less often applied to formal written documents unless their tone is being described.

常見錯誤

❌He was tactful when he told her that her work was terrible.
✅He was tactful when he gave constructive feedback about her work.
💡Being tactful means avoiding harsh statements, not being honest at the cost of others' feelings.
❌She was tactful to her mother.
✅She was tactful when speaking to her mother about the sensitive topic.
💡Tactful describes a way of communicating, not a general attitude toward someone.