Tactful example sentences
Related (15): diplomatic, considerate, sensitive, discreet, polite, courteous, delicate, subtle, thoughtful, tactless, blunt, insensitive, tact, tactfully, tactfulness
"Tactful" Example Sentences
Common Phrases
- tactful approach
- tactful way
- tactful handling
- tactful response
- tactful suggestion
- be tactful
- tactful person
- tactful feedback
- tactful refusal
- tactful observation
Examples by Level
A1
- A tactful person is kind and careful with words.
- She was tactful when she told him his idea wasn't very good.
A2
- It wasn't tactful of him to mention her weight at the party.
- The teacher gave tactful advice that helped the student feel better about the mistake.
B1
- Being tactful doesn't mean you have to agree with everything — you just need to be kind about disagreeing.
- She made a tactful exit from the conversation when she realized it was getting too personal.
B2
- The diplomat's tactful handling of the tense negotiation prevented what could have been a complete breakdown.
- It takes real skill to be tactful when you're genuinely angry at someone.
C1
- What she appreciated most was how tactful he'd been in pointing out the flaws without ever making her feel inadequate.
- The therapist's tactful observations revealed patterns she'd been unconsciously avoiding for years.
C2
- There's a particular kind of intelligence in being tactful — knowing exactly how much truth someone can bear and exactly how to deliver it.
- His tactful refusal managed the impossible: it preserved both the friendship and his own integrity without a trace of resentment on either side.
Examples by Scenario
🏠 Everyday Life
- My neighbor asked if I liked her new kitchen, and I gave a tactful answer even though the color was awful.
- When my kid asked why grandma looked different, I was tactful and said she was just tired.
💼 Workplace
- The manager's tactful feedback made me want to actually improve instead of just feeling bad about myself.
- She handled the awkward situation with a coworker in such a tactful way that nobody felt humiliated.
📊 Business
- The consultant gave a tactful analysis of why the campaign failed, which helped the team learn without destroying morale.
- Our client appreciated how tactful we were in suggesting they needed a complete rebrand.
🛒 Buying / Shopping
- The salesperson was tactful when I asked if the dress made me look fat — she just said the other color was more flattering.
- The store manager handled my complaint in a tactful way that actually made me want to come back.
✈️ Travel
- The hotel staff was tactful when we realized we'd booked the wrong dates — they found us a solution without making us feel stupid.
- The tour guide gave a tactful explanation of why the restaurant we wanted was closed, and suggested somewhere even better.
📚 Education
- The teacher's tactful correction of my son's mistake in front of the class helped him learn without shame.
- The professor gave tactful feedback on my essay that actually made me understand what I'd done wrong.
❤️ Relationships
- When he asked if I still loved him, I was tactful but honest — it saved us from a bigger fight later.
- She was tactful enough not to mention that his ex-girlfriend had texted him, even though she'd seen the message.
📰 News / Politics
- The journalist's tactful questioning of the politician revealed the truth without resorting to gotcha tactics.
- The news anchor gave a tactful report on the scandal that informed viewers without sensationalizing the details.
💻 Technology
- The tech support person was tactful when explaining that I'd been using the app wrong the whole time.
- The software company's tactful notification about the security breach didn't cause panic but still got people to update.
📝 Formal Writing
- The auditor's tactful report identified serious financial problems while maintaining a professional tone that didn't feel accusatory.
- The performance review was tactful in its criticism, focusing on specific behaviors rather than personal attacks.