Tactless — A Vocabulary Story
Listening Tastes Better
Fernando had been looking forward to the Istanbul Grand Bazaar for weeks. His older cousin Teresa, who had lived in Turkey for two years, agreed to show him around — but only if he promised to behave.
"Behave how?" Fernando asked, sidestepping a porter's cart.
"Don't be tactless," Teresa warned. "People here are proud of their craft. Loud opinions can hurt feelings."
Tactless means showing no sensitivity in what one says or does, causing offence or embarrassment.
Fernando rolled his eyes. He wasn't tactless — he was just honest.
At the first stall, an elderly weaver named Omar unfolded a crimson rug. Fernando blurted, "It's a bit wonky, isn't it?"
Teresa winced. Omar's smile tightened.
"That," Teresa whispered as they walked on, "was tactless. Those tiny imperfections are deliberate. They're tradition."
Fernando flushed. At the next stall, he pointed at a bubbling stew and announced it smelled strange. The cook, Nur, lowered her ladle. Another tactless remark, and Fernando finally noticed the hurt in her eyes.
He stopped showing off. Instead, he watched. He listened. He asked Nur how long the lamb had simmered, and her face brightened like a lantern.
On the way back, Fernando stopped at Omar's stall and apologised. "I was tactless," he admitted. "Could you teach me about the patterns?"
Omar laughed and pulled out a stool.
That evening, Teresa nudged him. "Less tactless today."
Fernando grinned. "Turns out listening tastes better than talking."
Word Definition
tactless
meaning
showing no sensitivity in what one says or does, causing offence or embarrassment
synonyms
inappropriate · indelicate · careless · improper · indiscreet
antonyms
tactful · prudent · sensitive
example sentence
His tactless comments about her appearance hurt her deeply.