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Tact vs Tacky - What's the difference?

tact | tacky |

As a noun tact

is the sense of touch; feeling.

As a verb tact

is to use a tact (a kind of verbal operant; see noun sense).

As an adjective tacky is

of a substance, slightly sticky.

tact

Noun

(en noun)
  • The sense of touch; feeling.
  • *
  • Did you suppose that I could not make myself sensible to tact as well as sight?
  • * J. Le Conte
  • Now, sight is a very refined tact .
  • (music) The stroke in beating time.
  • Sensitive mental touch; peculiar skill or faculty; nice perception or discernment; ready power of appreciating and doing what is required by circumstances.
  • *
  • He had formed plans not inferior in grandeur and boldness to those of Richelieu, and had carried them into effect with a tact and wariness worthy of Mazarin.
  • *
  • A tact' which surpassed the '''tact''' of her sex as much as the '''tact''' of her sex surpassed the ' tact of ours.
  • The ability to deal with embarrassing situations carefully and without doing or saying anything that will annoy or upset other people; careful consideration in dealing with others to avoid giving offense; the ability to say the right thing.
  • By the use of tact , she was able to calm her jealous husband.
    I used tact when I told my fat uncle that his extra weight made him look better.
  • (psychology) A verbal operant which is controlled by a nonverbal stimulus (such as an object, event, or property of an object) and is maintained by nonspecific social reinforcement (praise).
  • * 2013 , Jacob L. Gewirtz, William M. Kurtines, Jacob L. Lamb, Intersections With Attachment
  • Skinner (1957) saw such tacts as responses that are reinforced socially.

    Derived terms

    * tactful * tactless

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (psychology) To use a tact (a kind of verbal operant; see noun sense).
  • tacky

    English

    Adjective

    (er)
  • Of a substance, slightly sticky.
  • This paint isn't dry yet - it's still a bit tacky.
  • (colloquial) Of low quality.
  • That market stall sells all sorts of tacky ornaments.
  • (colloquial) In poor taste.
  • That was a tacky thing to say.
  • gaudy, flashy, showy, garish
  • dowdy, shabbily dressed
  • shabby, dowdy (in one's appearance)