tactical

adjective

ˈtak-ti-kəl How to pronounce tactical (audio)
Definition of tacticalnext
as in prudent
suitable for bringing about a desired result under the circumstances made the tactical move of becoming friendly with the journalism teacher, hoping that this would get him appointed editor of the school newspaper

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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 tactical Officers executed a search warrant at one of their homes and found a gel bead gun (also known as an Orbeez gun), a tactical vest, and a hockey-style mask. — Tom Ignudo, CBS News, 12 Oct. 2026 This would provide some interesting tactical options for the Navy, especially for conflicts with rivals, like China. — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 11 Oct. 2026 The handwritten observations, shared with ProPublica, span 13 days and chart a steady escalation by DHS, culminating in an elite tactical team that blocked tribal authorities from issuing trespassing citations to contractors or removing them. — Ryan Devereaux, ProPublica, 10 Oct. 2026 Not postseason punishment, just tactical moves based on opposing pitching. — ABC News, 9 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tactical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tactical
  1. prudent
  2. desirable
  3. wise
  4. possible
  5. politic
Adjective
  • The Royals still must try to be prudent in fixing their relief unit.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Payton will certainly want to prove his decision to take over play-calling from offensive coordinator Davis Webb was a prudent one.
    — Sam Jane, Denver Post, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of prudent
Adjective
  • The products have to remain desirable enough that customers are willing to pay up at a time when AI is squeezing margins across much of the software sector.
    — CJ Haddad, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Increasingly, however, marinas are becoming desirable destinations unto themselves.
    — Chrissie McClatchie, Robb Report, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of desirable
Adjective
  • Maybe there’s an equilibrium that must be restored on this show, relationship-wise.
    — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Anthropic updates its policies to bar users being cruel to Claude, inflaming a debate about whether the company’s concern for ‘model welfare’ is wise.
    — Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of wise
Adjective
  • The students who stepped forward when their teacher collapsed playing basketball in Michigan illustrate what becomes possible when CPR skills are taught before they are needed.
    — Meng Yang, Time, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The film team had to come up with a strategy to capture as much as possible without interfering with Schnell’s challenge.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of possible
Adjective
  • Coaxing out his talents fell to a more politic peer.
    — Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 22 June 2026
  • What’s depicted focuses on the advances these early feminists made at the school and in society, and the personal tensions between the relentlessly radical Marks and the more politic Woolley.
    — Manuel Mendoza, Dallas Morning News, 19 Feb. 2026
Definition of politic

Browse Nearby Words

tactic
tactical
tactics
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Cite this Entry

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

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