tactful
Skilled at delicacy
Tactful describes someone who handles delicate situations with sensitivity and skill, avoiding offense or embarrassment.
A tactful person knows what to say—and what not to say—when feelings are at stake: She found a tactful way to decline the invitation.
The word implies social intelligence and consideration for others' dignity.
Showing careful consideration
- sensitiveEasily affected emotionally
- courteousShowing respectful consideration
- politeShowing good manners
- diplomaticTactful and sensitive
respectful · gracious · attentive · mindful · gentle · kind · understanding · empathetic
Not immediately obvious
- prudentExercising sound judgment
- circumspectCarefully considering consequences
- judiciousHaving sound assessment skills
- restrainedHeld under control
guarded · cautious · delicate · measured · careful · understated · unobtrusive · reserved
thoughtful
Showing careful consideration
- sensitiveEasily affected emotionally
- courteousShowing respectful consideration
- politeShowing good manners
diplomatic · respectful · gracious · attentive · mindful · gentle · kind · understanding · empathetic · compassionate
subtle
Not immediately obvious
- prudentExercising sound judgment
- circumspectCarefully considering consequences
- judiciousHaving sound assessment skills
restrained · guarded · cautious · delicate · measured · careful · understated · unobtrusive · reserved · low-key
calculated
Figured out mathematically
canny · perceptive · discerning · adroit · deft · skillful · clever · artful · politic · smooth
- euphemisticpolite, mild, delicate, indirect, softened
- mannersetiquette, manners, polite, rude, politeness
- speaking stylesarticulate, blunt, candid, conversational, casual
- discretiondiscreet, discretion, subtle, understated, unobtrusive
- refinedrefined, polite, proper, gracious, elegant
- sugarcoatingsweeten, soften, gloss over, whitewash, soft-pedal
tactfultactless
Insensitive in manner
untactful · inconsiderate · thoughtless · insensitive · undiplomatic