as in politely
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Recent Examples of tactfully
The most successful communicators can tactfully disagree with senior leaders without hurting their own reputation.
—
Melody Wilding, CNBC, 3 June 2026
Lucky, at least, knows how to stay in his lane tactfully.
—John Burek, PC Magazine, 1 June 2026
While Smith tactfully deflected that question, Church and other supporters would like to see a portion of the downtown building used for a larger display of his work.
—Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
The Chinese researchers remained tactfully silent on the military front — perhaps choosing scientific decorum over a discussion of battlefield utility.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 4 Mar. 2026
How can this situation be dealt with tactfully with the hosts — if at all?
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 13 Jan. 2026
Forgoing opulence and drama, Stone’s floor-length dress featured a flowing silhouette and distinct gray lines tactfully exposing the seams of the garment.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2025
The royal family are responsible for the seating arrangements at the state dinner and appear to have tactfully seated the media mogul far away from the president to avoid any awkward encounters.
—Amanda Castro
hannah Parry
shane Croucher
jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
At the top of the drive, a Greek-temple art museum presides, its most recent cultural icon—Sylvester Stallone as Rocky—tactfully tucked out of sight.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
Melody Wilding, CNBC, 3 June 2026
Lucky, at least, knows how to stay in his lane tactfully.
—John Burek, PC Magazine, 1 June 2026
While Smith tactfully deflected that question, Church and other supporters would like to see a portion of the downtown building used for a larger display of his work.
—Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
The Chinese researchers remained tactfully silent on the military front — perhaps choosing scientific decorum over a discussion of battlefield utility.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 4 Mar. 2026
How can this situation be dealt with tactfully with the hosts — if at all?
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 13 Jan. 2026
Forgoing opulence and drama, Stone’s floor-length dress featured a flowing silhouette and distinct gray lines tactfully exposing the seams of the garment.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2025
The royal family are responsible for the seating arrangements at the state dinner and appear to have tactfully seated the media mogul far away from the president to avoid any awkward encounters.
—Amanda Castro
hannah Parry
shane Croucher
jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
At the top of the drive, a Greek-temple art museum presides, its most recent cultural icon—Sylvester Stallone as Rocky—tactfully tucked out of sight.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tactfully
Adverb
-
The results are often, to put it politely, anywhere from underwhelming to plagiaristic.—
Daniel Cassady,
ARTnews.com,
8 June 2026
-
Other kindly ushers, who had directed people to an adjacent section after Section 535 filled up, politely asked everyone to please put their shirts back on before returning to the general stadium population.—
Bill Shaikin,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
Adverb
-
His potential political ambitions aside, Rubio has incentive to seek good relations with the Vatican, both diplomatically and personally as a devout member of the faith.—
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
6 May 2026
-
And diplomatically, Trump looks weak.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
2 May 2026
Adverb
-
When a visitor arrives in a classroom, a classroom ambassador welcomes them, introduces himself and the subject being taught, and courteously asks for the visitor’s name and affiliation.—
Walter Fields,
Baltimore Sun,
10 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
In April, Murekezi was ordered civilly committed as mentally ill.—
Nick Ferraro,
Twin Cities,
8 June 2026
-
The difference was that in Simpson’s case, his whole home had been searched by the feds—and with the help of the private company that would later sue him civilly.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
22 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tactfully.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tactfully. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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