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Tactful vs Condescending - What's the difference?

tactful | condescending |

As adjectives the difference between tactful and condescending

is that tactful is possessing tact; able to deal with people in a sensitive manner while condescending is assuming a tone of superiority, or a patronizing attitude.

As a verb condescending is

present participle of lang=en.

tactful

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Possessing tact; able to deal with people in a sensitive manner.

    • Antonyms

    * tactless

    condescending

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Assuming a tone of superiority, or a patronizing attitude.
    • Quit talking to me in that condescending tone! You always treat me like a child – ugh!

    Synonyms

    * (assuming a tone of superiority) (l)

    Derived terms

    * condescendingly

    Related terms

    * condescendence * condescension

    Verb

    (head)