tactful

Thân thiện

She offered a tactful suggestion to improve the project without hurting anyone's feelings.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Showing skill and sensitivity in dealing with people: Possessing or demonstrating the ability to handle delicate social situations and communicate with others in a way that avoids giving offense or causing upset.
   • Having or showing a sense of what is fitting and considerate in dealing with others: Demonstrating a keen awareness of what is appropriate and thoughtful in interpersonal interactions.

Usage

The adjective "tactful" describes a person, their behavior, or their communication. It is used to praise someone's diplomatic skill in navigating social complexities. It often modifies nouns like person, remark, way, manner, response, or approach.

Examples

• Adjective:
  • She gave a tactful response to the difficult question.
  • A tactful manager knows how to deliver constructive criticism.
  • It was very tactful of you not to mention the incident.
  • He handled the client's complaint in a tactful manner.

Advanced Usage

• "to be tactful enough to do something": Used to highlight that someone's consideration successfully prevented a negative outcome.
  • He was tactful enough to change the subject when the conversation became uncomfortable.

Variants and Related Words

• Tactfully (adverb): In a tactful manner.
  • She tactfully suggested a different approach.
• Tact (noun): The quality of being tactful.
  • He handled the situation with great tact.
• Tactless (adjective): The opposite of tactful; lacking sensitivity.
  • His tactless comment hurt her feelings.

Synonyms

• Diplomatic: Skilled in dealing with sensitive matters or people.
• Discreet: Careful and prudent in one's speech or actions to avoid causing offense.
• Considerate: Thoughtful of the feelings and circumstances of others.
• Polite: Showing good manners and respect for others.

Antonyms

• Tactless: Lacking sensitivity.
• Blunt: Direct and uncompromising in speech, often without regard for feelings.
• Indiscreet: Lacking discretion; revealing things that should be private.
• Inconsiderate: Thoughtless of others' feelings or needs.

Idioms and Phrases

• Kid-glove treatment (related idiom): Handling someone or something with extreme care, delicacy, and tact.
  • The sensitive issue required kid-glove treatment from the negotiators.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. showing skill and sensitivity in dealing with people
   • by diplomatic conduct he avoided antagonizing anyone
   • a tactful way of correcting someone
   • the agency got the kid-glove treatment on Capitol Hill
2. having or showing a sense of what is fitting and considerate in dealing with others
   • she was tactful enough not to shatter his illusion
   • a tactful remark eased her embarrassment

Từ đồng nghĩa

• kid-glove