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

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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

The home, along Norris Avenue in the northern Arden-Arcade area, has sparked opposition from neighbors and local officials who say its location near multiple schools and in the middle of a residential neighborhood is inappropriate.

— Carmela Karcher, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
Hochman said Flores simply could have taken notes on the inappropriate comments and turned them in to superiors or the independent inspector general, which strikes me as either sweetly naive or disingenuous.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of inappropriate

Adjective

Issues include elevated pH levels,and improper signage, filters and ladders.

— Abby Dodge, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
According to the Graves County Sheriff's Office, Flores, an employee at Graves County Middle School, is accused of having an improper relationship with a minor student in the district.

— Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of improper

Adjective

Smaller seats, less legroom, meals on a budget, and now someone whispering indiscreet sweet nothings to their lover in my ear.

— Charlie Hobbs, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 May 2026
The most successful and lucrative family vlogs are indiscreet almost by definition—and yet the wrong kind of indiscretion can derail the whole gravy train.

— Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 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

Jaynes pleaded not guilty Monday to a felony count of leaving the scene of an accident causing property damage of more than $10,000 and a traffic violation of careless and prohibited driving.

— Grant Lancaster, Arkansas Online, 29 July 2026
Myers, however, threw a careless hit that concussed Matty Beniers during his rookie campaign, and Kraken fans have long remembered that sequence.

— Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 25 July 2026

Definition of careless

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“Indelicate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/indelicate. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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