INDELICATE Synonyms: 54 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'indelicate' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of indelicate are improper , indecorous , unbecoming , and unseemly . While all these words mean "not conforming to what is accepted as right, fitting, or in good taste," indelicate implies a lack of modesty or of tact or of refined perception of feeling. // indelicate expressions for bodily functions

Q: When might 'improper' be a better fit than 'indelicate'?

The meanings of improper and indelicate largely overlap; however, improper applies to a broader range of transgressions of rules not only of social behavior but of ethical practice or logical procedure or prescribed method. // improper use of campaign contributions

Q: When can 'indecorous' be used instead of 'indelicate'?

In some situations, the words indecorous and indelicate are roughly equivalent. However, indecorous suggests a violation of accepted standards of good manners. // indecorous behavior

Q: In what contexts can 'unbecoming' take the place of 'indelicate'?

While the synonyms unbecoming and indelicate are close in meaning, unbecoming suggests behavior or language that does not suit one's character or status. // conduct unbecoming to an officer

Q: When is it sensible to use 'unseemly' instead of 'indelicate'?

The words unseemly and indelicate can be used in similar contexts, but unseemly adds a suggestion of special inappropriateness to a situation or an offensiveness to good taste. // remarried with unseemly haste

indelicate

adjective

(ˌ)in-ˈde-li-kət

Definition of indelicate

as in inappropriate

showing poor judgment especially in personal relationships or social situations the company considered his indelicate handling of such a personal matter to be unprofessional

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective indelicate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of indelicate are improper, indecorous, unbecoming, and unseemly. While all these words mean "not conforming to what is accepted as right, fitting, or in good taste," indelicate implies a lack of modesty or of tact or of refined perception of feeling.

indelicate expressions for bodily functions

When might improper be a better fit than indelicate?

The meanings of improper and indelicate largely overlap; however, improper applies to a broader range of transgressions of rules not only of social behavior but of ethical practice or logical procedure or prescribed method.

improper use of campaign contributions

When can indecorous be used instead of indelicate?

In some situations, the words indecorous and indelicate are roughly equivalent. However, indecorous suggests a violation of accepted standards of good manners.

indecorous behavior

In what contexts can unbecoming take the place of indelicate?

While the synonyms unbecoming and indelicate are close in meaning, unbecoming suggests behavior or language that does not suit one's character or status.

conduct unbecoming to an officer

When is it sensible to use unseemly instead of indelicate?

The words unseemly and indelicate can be used in similar contexts, but unseemly adds a suggestion of special inappropriateness to a situation or an offensiveness to good taste.

remarried with unseemly haste

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of indelicate His view toward law could be summarized in his indelicate three-word exhortation to his fellow prisoners at Nuremberg to show no remorse for crime and no respect for law. — Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025 If any lawsuit ends up in court, a judge or jury will have to decide if an indelicate social media posting is worth more than $500,000 for the bereaved of Sade Robinson. — Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 21 May 2025 The phrasing was indelicate, but the idea that Canada lacks a cohesive identity is not a novel proposition. — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 24 Apr. 2025 Advertisement The president-elect’s style — brash, indelicate and pugilistic — is distilled in his son. — Michelle L. Price, Los Angeles Times, 25 Nov. 2024 See All Example Sentences for indelicate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for indelicate

Adjective

On the police's Facebook account on Tuesday, officers criticized inappropriate comments and warned that sharing or joking about such incidents can worsen the impact on any victim.

— ABC News, ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026
In addition, pharmaceutical advertising or education aimed at doctors may also increase inappropriate prescribing, probably increases the number of prescriptions written, and may increase the costs of prescriptions.

— Ed Silverman, STAT, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of inappropriate

Adjective

In 2024, its football program acknowledged impermissible recruiting contacts during the COVID-19 recruiting dead period, improper tryouts and unauthorized coaching by noncoaching staff.

— Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2026
The production was shut down in Livingston, Montana last Saturday when locals complained about the production’s impact on the Livingston food bank and improper warnings about hazardous stunts.

— Pat Saperstein, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of improper

Adjective

Swan Song is not exactly endearing Spencer to his countrymen, who generally struggle to sympathize with an indiscreet Old Etonian with a fourth wife and a Northamptonshire-size chip on his shoulder.

— Ashley Baker, Air Mail, 3 Oct. 2026
Some are scholarly, some deliciously indiscreet, all are perceptive in one way or another, and one plunges wholesale into obsession.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of indiscreet

Adjective

Let’s finish up by circling back to the beginning, when six injudicious justices ignored an eternal political truth.

— Gerald Scorse, New York Daily News, 7 Aug. 2026
And again, many of the reforms backfired or proved injudicious, but some of them remain powerful to this day.

— David Frum, The Atlantic, 1 July 2026

Definition of injudicious

Adjective

The itinerants were all a bit peculiar, capable of making imprudent choices.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 July 2026
And this is Minsky’s point, that speculative excesses during euphoric, transformative periods result in imprudent financing, fragility, and instability.

— Hersh Shefrin, Forbes.com, 4 June 2026

Definition of imprudent

Adjective

Josh Hoover may have been a bit careless, but every game TCU has played this season is another painful example how badly both his old school, and coach, miss him.

— Mac Engel October 14, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Oct. 2026
Red Raiders quarterback Will Hammond can be careless with the football, throwing three interceptions against Sam Houston last weekend and posting five picks in four games.

— Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of careless

Adjective

The state could also use the money for another environmental purpose if dredging is deemed inadvisable — or for further dredging study if necessary.

— Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun, 14 Aug. 2026
Many people, even those considerably older, posted things on social media that in hindsight were inadvisable.

— The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of inadvisable

Browse Nearby Words

indelicacy

indelicate

indelicateness

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Indelicate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/indelicate. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of indelicate

adjective

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

compunction

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Games & Quizzes