indelicacy
Breach of tact
Indelicacy is a lack of tact, refinement, or sensitivity to what is appropriate.
The word suggests behavior or speech that offends propriety without necessarily being vulgar: His indelicacy in asking about her salary embarrassed everyone.
An indelicacy is a specific instance of such tactlessness.
The word has an old-fashioned quality, more at home in Victorian novels than contemporary speech.
Indecent word or act
- profanityVulgar or obscene speech
- lewdnessCrude sexual indecency
- ribaldryVulgar or indecent humor
- coarsenessRough or vulgar quality
bawdiness · raunchiness · smut · crassness · foulness · indecency · tastelessness · grossness
Rough or vulgar quality
- roughnessUneven surface quality
- crudityUnrefined or vulgar quality
- rawnessUnrefined or exposed state
- earthinessUnpretentious, primal quality
bluntness · gruffness · harshness · abrasiveness · boorishness · uncouthness · rusticity · gracelessness
Lack of emotional awareness
- thoughtlessnessLack of careful consideration
- bluntnessFrank, unvarnished manner
- inconsiderationDisregard for others' feelings
- disregardWillful lack of attention
obtuseness · carelessness · obliviousness · heavy-handedness · impoliteness · brashness · unsubtlety · maladroitness
Inappropriate or improper quality
- inappropriatenessLack of suitability
- indecorumViolation of accepted standards
- indiscretionUnwise act or remark
- unbecomingnessInappropriateness of conduct
unsuitability · bad form · faux pas · transgression · immodesty · imprudence · lapse · solecism
Deliberate public insult
- insultOffensive remark or action
- slightMinor or thin
- snubDeliberate dismissive rejection
- disrespectLack of regard
outrage · indignity · umbrage · hurt feelings · sting · rudeness · impertinence · effrontery
obscenity
Indecent word or act
coarseness · bawdiness · raunchiness · smut · crassness · foulness · indecency · tastelessness · grossness · scurrility
coarseness
Rough or vulgar quality
earthiness · bluntness · gruffness · harshness · abrasiveness · boorishness · uncouthness · rusticity · gracelessness · brusqueness
insensitivity
Lack of emotional awareness
- thoughtlessnessLack of careful consideration
- bluntnessFrank, unvarnished manner
- inconsiderationDisregard for others' feelings
disregard · obtuseness · carelessness · obliviousness · heavy-handedness · impoliteness · brashness · unsubtlety · maladroitness · tone-deafness
unseemliness
Inappropriate or improper quality
- inappropriatenessLack of suitability
- indecorumViolation of accepted standards
- indiscretionUnwise act or remark
unbecomingness · unsuitability · bad form · faux pas · transgression · immodesty · imprudence · lapse · solecism · unacceptability
affront
Deliberate public insult
disrespect · outrage · indignity · umbrage · hurt feelings · sting · rudeness · impertinence · effrontery · insolence
- social blundersgaffe, faux pas, misstep, blooper, flub
- tackinesstackiness, gaudiness, garishness, tawdriness, trashiness
indelicacydelicacy
Refined sensitivity or rarity
refinement · elegance · grace · polish · cultivation
indelicacysensitivity
Responsiveness to stimuli
tact · tactfulness · consideration · thoughtfulness · diplomacy
indelicacytastefulness
Refined aesthetic sensibility
propriety · decorum · refinement · good taste · decency