undiplomatic

/ˌʌn.dɪp.ləˈmæt.ɪk/ (bre, ipa) · [əndˌɪpləmˈætɪk] /ˌʌn.dɪp.ləˈmæt̬.ɪk/ (ame, ipa) · [əndˌɪpləmˈætɪk] /ˌən-ˌdi-plə-ˈma-tik How to pronounce undiplomatic (audio)/ (ame, mw)

undiplomatic — adjective

  • undiplomaticpositive
  • more undiplomaticcomparative
  • most undiplomaticsuperlative

1. saying or doing things in a direct and straightforward way that gives little tho

1.形容詞B2
釋義

saying or doing things in a direct and straightforward way that gives little thought to how other people might feel, often resulting in embarrassment, hurt feelings, or annoyance.

例句

Nora told her boss that his presentation was awful — a comment that many found undiplomatic but honest.

undiplomatic but honest — contrastive usage

Wei realised too late that asking about Jabari's divorce at the dinner party was an undiplomatic question.

同義詞
  • tactless

    nearly identical in meaning; the most common everyday synonym

  • blunt

    suggests honesty as a positive motivation — can be less negative than undiplomatic

  • outspoken

    can be positive (admiring someone's honesty); undiplomatic is always negative

反義詞
  • diplomatic

    careful and sensitive in how you communicate

  • tactful

    showing skill at avoiding offence in social situations

  • discreet

    careful not to cause embarrassment or reveal private information

文法句型

it + be + undiplomatic + of + person + infinitive

undiplomatic + noun (question/remark/comment/way/manner)

be + undiplomatic (predicative, about a person)

用法筆記

More common in everyday speech than sense 2. The person described as undiplomatic may be well-intentioned but simply speaks too directly. Distinguish from 'rude', which implies a deliberate intention to offend — undiplomatic behaviour lacks that hostile intent.

常見錯誤

❌She was undiplomatic to the waiter by shouting at him.
✅She was rude to the waiter by shouting at him.
💡shouting implies deliberate aggression, which goes beyond the meaning of undiplomatic (lacking tact, not intentionally offensive).
❌The politician's undiplomatic lie was discovered by journalists.
✅The politician's undiplomatic remark angered the opposition party.
💡a lie is dishonest, while undiplomatic describes directness or lack of care, not deception.

2. describing behaviour, words, or actions that go against the polite and carefully

2.形容詞C1
釋義

describing behaviour, words, or actions that go against the polite and carefully controlled style that is normally expected of diplomats and people involved in international relations.

例句

The ambassador told Mauricio that his blunt questions during the trade meeting were undiplomatic and could harm the negotiations.

undiplomatic + behaviour in formal negotiations

Greta's speech was considered undiplomatic because she openly criticised the host government's education policies.

同義詞
  • tactless

    broader — used in any social setting, not just formal/political ones

  • impolitic

    more formal — specifically describes actions that are unwise in a political or strategic sense

  • indelicate

    slightly milder — suggests a lack of refinement rather than outright offence

反義詞
  • diplomatic

    direct antonym — following the proper, careful conduct of international relations

  • tactful

    broader antonym — showing care not to offend in any situation

文法句型

undiplomatic + noun (remark/comment/behaviour/language/move)

be + undiplomatic (predicative)

用法筆記

Subject is typically a remark, comment, action, or behaviour in an international-relations or formal political context. The word carries a stronger tone of official disapproval than 'tactless' or 'blunt', which are used in everyday social situations.

常見錯誤

❌His jeans were undiplomatic for the wedding dinner.
✅His jeans were inappropriate for the wedding dinner.
💡undiplomatic only applies to behaviour, words, and actions in formal or political contexts, not to clothing or objects.
❌The children were undiplomatic during the school play.
✅The children were disruptive during the school play.
💡undiplomatic is too formal for a casual classroom situation; use a simpler word instead.