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Tactful vs Tacky - What's the difference?

tactful | tacky |

As adjectives the difference between tactful and tacky

is that tactful is possessing tact; able to deal with people in a sensitive manner while tacky is of a substance, slightly sticky.

tactful

English

Adjective

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

    • Antonyms

    * tactless

    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)