tactless
/ˈtæktləs/ (bre, ipa) · [tˈæktləs] /ˈtæktləs/ (ame, ipa) · [tˈæktləs] /ˈtakt-ləs How to pronounce tactless (audio)/ (ame, mw)
tactless — adjective
- tactlesspositive
- more tactlesscomparative
- most tactlesssuperlative
1. behaving or speaking without considering whether other people may feel hurt, emb
behaving or speaking without considering whether other people may feel hurt, embarrassed, or offended by what you say or do
Noa made a tactless comment about Hamza's new haircut, and the room fell silent.
attributive: a tactless comment / remark / question
It was tactless of Antonia to ask Bao how much his apartment cost.
pattern: it + be + tactless + of [person] + to-infinitive
Mathieu realized his tactless joke had upset Tara when she stopped talking to him.
A tactless email from the manager made several staff members feel unappreciated.
Imani's tactless question about Nora's divorce ended the dinner party early.
- insensitive
broader meaning — can describe emotional blindness beyond social situations, e.g. insensitive to someone's grief
- undiplomatic
focuses on lack of skill in handling people, especially in professional settings
- blunt
emphasises directness or honesty over social grace; sometimes seen as a positive trait ('brutally honest')
- impolite
more general — failing to follow basic social rules, not necessarily about upsetting someone
- tactful
careful to say things in a way that does not upset others
- diplomatic
skilled at handling sensitive situations without causing offence
- considerate
broader — thinking about how your actions affect other people's feelings
文法句型
it + be + tactless + of [person] + to-infinitive
tactless + noun (remark / question / joke / comment)
[person] + be + tactless
用法筆記
Commonly describes remarks, questions, jokes, or a person's general way of speaking. The focus is on unintentional social awkwardness rather than deliberate cruelty.