TACTICAL Synonyms: 34 Similar and Opposite Words

tactical

adjective

ˈtak-ti-kəl

Definition of tactical

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 The typical use cases for those drones include search and rescue, tactical search, scene documentation, and, apparently, bobcat removal. — Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 2 Sep. 2026 The video shows the state trooper performing a tactical vehicle intervention, also known as a PIT maneuver, on a fleeing Infiniti hatchback. — Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 31 Aug. 2026 The agents would be identifiable, one member of the group said, by their tactical boots. — Laura Tillman, Hartford Courant, 31 Aug. 2026 In response, Russia is adapting by increasingly deploying FPV drones to deliver tactical fires. — Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tactical

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tactical

Adjective

Critics of Modi’s prudent management of Washington have not come up with a convincing alternative strategy for how India should handle the growing power imbalance with China.

— C. Raja Mohan, Foreign Affairs, 27 Aug. 2026
But Newsom’s new language moves away from the prudent standard and also drops the fatality requirement.

— Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of prudent

Adjective

As high-quality synthetic re-creations become cheap and accessible, cloning has become a more desirable option for studios struggling with runaway production costs.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
Summary Personality traits often blur between desirable and undesirable, with positive qualities becoming negative in extreme.

— Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of desirable

Adjective

Sunlight Place the plant in a sunny window, south-facing if possible, and give it four to six hours of sunlight each day.

— Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 1 Sep. 2026
Carley Garner, a commodity market strategist and broker at DeCarley Trading, said smaller futures and oil ETFs such as the United States Oil Fund (ticker USO) have made speculation possible for traders at almost any level of experience or funding.

— Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 1 Sep. 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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“Tactical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tactical. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of tactical

adjective

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