If you describe something such as furniture, clothing, or the way that a house is decorated as tasteless, you consider it to be vulgar and unattractive.
...a flat crammed with spectacularly tasteless objets d'art.
Synonyms: gaudy, cheap, vulgar, tacky [informal] More Synonyms of tasteless
2. adjective
If you describe something such as a remark or joke as tasteless, you mean that it is offensive.
I think that is the most vulgar and tasteless remark I ever heard in my life.
3. adjective
If you describe food or drink as tasteless, you mean that it has very little or no flavour.
The fish was mushy and tasteless.
Synonyms: insipid, bland, flat, boring More Synonyms of tasteless
More Synonyms of tasteless
tasteless in British English
(ˈteɪstlɪs)
adjective
1.
lacking in flavour; insipid
2.
lacking social or aesthetic taste
3. rare
unable to taste
Derived forms
tastelessly (ˈtastelessly)
adverb
tastelessness (ˈtastelessness)
noun
tasteless in American English
(ˈteɪstlɪs)
adjective
1.
a.
without taste or flavor; flat; insipid
b.
dull; uninteresting
2.
lacking good taste or showing poor taste
Derived forms
tastelessly (ˈtastelessly)
adverb
tastelessness (ˈtastelessness)
noun
Examples of 'tasteless' in a sentence
tasteless
Weeks at sea caused his food to become tasteless.
Christianity Today (2000)
Bland is the best you could say about this, the fish almost completely tasteless.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In between he told tasteless jokes and scoffed at the atrocious British weather.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
So you eat tasteless food all your life just so you can be killed by a bus, rather than a heart attack.
The Sun (2008)
I know it can sound like one of those trendy but tasteless foods that just isn't for you.
The Sun (2016)
He sensibly ignored it, mentally filing it as either some kind of tasteless joke or more "crass meddling' from offshore.
Admiral Sandy Woodward, With Patrick Robinson ONE HUNDRED DAYS (2003)
In other languages
tasteless
British English: tasteless /ˈteɪstlɪs/ ADJECTIVE
vulgar If you describe something as tasteless, you mean that it is vulgar and unattractive.
...a house full of tasteless furniture.
American English: tasteless
Arabic: تَفِه
Brazilian Portuguese: insípido
Chinese: 没味道的
Croatian: neukusan
Czech: nevkusný
Danish: smagløs
Dutch: smakeloos
European Spanish: insípido
Finnish: mauton
French: fade nourriture
German: geschmacklos
Greek: κακόγουστος
Italian: insapore
Japanese: 味のない
Korean: 맛없는
Norwegian: smakløs
Polish: niesmaczny
European Portuguese: insípido
Romanian: fad
Russian: безвкусный
Latin American Spanish: insípido
Swedish: smaklös
Thai: ไม่มีรสนิยม
Turkish: tatsız tuzsuz
Ukrainian: без смаку
Vietnamese: vô vị
British English: tasteless ADJECTIVE
food, drink If you describe food or drink as tasteless, you mean that it has very little or no flavour.
The fish was mushy and tasteless.
American English: tasteless
Brazilian Portuguese: insípido
Chinese: > 没品位的家具、衣物、房屋装饰等
European Spanish: soso
French: insipide
German: geschmacklos
Italian: insapore
Japanese: 品のない
Korean: 몰취미한
European Portuguese: insípido
Latin American Spanish: soso
Chinese translation of 'tasteless'
tasteless
(ˈteɪstlɪs)
adj
[food]无(無)味的 (wúwèi de)
[remark, joke]不雅的 (bùyǎ de)
[furniture, decor etc]低俗的 (dīsú de)
1 (adjective)
Definition
lacking social or aesthetic taste
spectacularly tasteless objets d'art
Synonyms
gaudy
a gaudy orange-and-purple hat
cheap
Don't resort to cheap copies; save up for the real thing.
vulgar
The decor is ugly, tasteless and vulgar.
tacky (informal)
tacky red sunglasses
flashy
a flashy sports car
naff (British, slang)
garish
garish purple curtains
inelegant
tawdry
tawdry jewellery
Opposites
elegant
,
refined
,
graceful
,
tasteful
2 (adjective)
Definition
lacking social or aesthetic taste
a tasteless remark
Synonyms
vulgar
a TV show well known for its vulgar jokes
crude
a crude sense of humour
improper
The politicians denied any improper behaviour.
low
The film's low comedy is never unlikeable.
gross
That's a disgusting thing to say – you're so gross!
rude
He made a rude gesture with his finger.
coarse
He has a very coarse sense of humour.
crass
They have behaved with crass insensitivity.
unseemly
It would be unseemly for judges to receive pay increases.
indiscreet
tactless
He had alienated many people with his tactless remarks.
uncouth
that oafish, uncouth person
impolite
It would be most impolite to refuse a simple invitation to supper.
graceless
She couldn't stand his blunt, graceless manner.
indelicate
She could not touch upon such an indelicate subject.
indecorous
3 (adjective)
Definition
lacking in flavour
The fish was mushy and tasteless.
Synonyms
insipid
It tasted bland and insipid, like warm cardboard.
bland
It's easy on the ear but bland and forgettable.
flat
The past few days have been flat and empty.
boring
boring television programmes
thin
weak
a weak cup of tea
dull
They can both be rather dull.
mild
The cheese has a soft, mild flavour.
tame
The report was pretty tame stuff.
watered-down
uninteresting
Why did he choose these pale, nerveless, uninteresting people?
uninspired
vapid
The conversation was vapid and uninteresting.
flavourless
Opposites
delicious
,
tasty
,
delectable
,
savoury
,
flavoursome
,
scrumptious (informal)
,
appetizing
,
yummo (Australian, slang)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of bland
Definition
dull and uninteresting
It's easy on the ear but bland and forgettable.
Synonyms
dull,
boring,
weak,
plain,
flat,
commonplace,
tedious,
vanilla (informal),
dreary,
tiresome,
monotonous,
run-of-the-mill,
uninspiring,
humdrum,
unimaginative,
uninteresting,
insipid,
unexciting,
ho-hum (informal),
vapid,
unstimulating,
undistinctive
in the sense of boring
boring television programmes
Synonyms
uninteresting,
dull,
tedious,
dreary,
stale,
tiresome,
monotonous,
old,
dead,
flat,
dry,
routine,
uninspiring,
humdrum,
insipid,
mind-numbing,
unexciting,
ho-hum (informal),
repetitious,
wearisome,
unvaried,
yawnsome,
as dry as dust
in the sense of cheap
Definition
of poor quality
Don't resort to cheap copies; save up for the real thing.
Synonyms
inferior,
poor,
worthless,
second-rate,
shoddy,
tawdry,
tatty (British),
trashy,
substandard,
low-rent (informal),
two-bit (slang),
crappy (slang),
two a penny,
rubbishy,
dime-a-dozen (informal),
piss-poor (slang),
tinhorn (US, slang),
bodger or bodgie (Australian, slang),
common,
paltry,
poxy (slang),
chickenshit (US, slang),
bush-league (Australian, New Zealand, informal)
Synonyms of 'tasteless'
tasteless
Explore 'tasteless' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of coarse
Definition
unrefined or indecent
He has a very coarse sense of humour.
Synonyms
vulgar,
offensive,
rude,
indecent,
improper,
raunchy (informal),
earthy,
foul-mouthed,
bawdy,
impure,
smutty,
impolite,
ribald,
immodest,
indelicate
in the sense of crass
Definition
stupid and insensitive
They have behaved with crass insensitivity.
Synonyms
insensitive,
stupid,
gross,
blundering,
dense,
coarse,
bovine,
witless,
boorish,
obtuse,
unrefined,
asinine,
indelicate,
oafish,
lumpish,
doltish
in the sense of crude
Definition
tasteless or vulgar
a crude sense of humour
Synonyms
vulgar,
dirty,
rude,
obscene,
coarse,
indecent,
crass,
tasteless,
lewd,
X-rated (informal),
boorish,
smutty,
uncouth,
gross
in the sense of dull
Definition
not interesting
They can both be rather dull.
Synonyms
boring,
tedious,
dreary,
flat,
dry,
plain,
commonplace,
tiresome,
monotonous,
prosaic,
run-of-the-mill,
humdrum,
unimaginative,
dozy,
uninteresting,
mind-numbing,
ho-hum (informal),
vapid,
as dry as dust
in the sense of flashy
Definition
showy in a vulgar way
a flashy sports car
Synonyms
showy,
loud,
over the top (informal),
flamboyant,
brash,
tacky (informal),
flaunting,
glitzy (slang),
tasteless,
naff (British, slang),
gaudy,
garish,
jazzy (informal),
tawdry,
ostentatious,
snazzy (informal),
glittery,
meretricious,
cheap and nasty,
in poor taste,
tinselly,
bling (slang)
in the sense of flat
Definition
unexciting
The past few days have been flat and empty.
Synonyms
dull,
dead,
empty,
boring,
depressing,
pointless,
tedious,
stale,
lacklustre,
tiresome,
lifeless,
monotonous,
uninteresting,
insipid,
unexciting,
spiritless
in the sense of garish
Definition
crudely bright or colourful
garish purple curtains
Synonyms
gaudy,
bright,
glaring,
vulgar,
brilliant,
flash (informal),
loud,
brash,
tacky (informal),
flashy,
tasteless,
naff (British, slang),
jazzy (informal),
tawdry,
showy,
brassy,
raffish,
brummagem
in the sense of graceless
Definition
lacking manners
She couldn't stand his blunt, graceless manner.
Synonyms
ill-mannered,
crude,
rude,
coarse,
vulgar,
rough,
improper,
shameless,
unsophisticated,
gauche,
barbarous,
boorish,
gawky,
uncouth,
loutish,
indecorous,
unmannerly
in the sense of gross
Definition
disgusting or repulsive
That's a disgusting thing to say – you're so gross!
Synonyms
vulgar,
offensive,
crude,
rude,
obscene,
low,
coarse,
indecent,
improper,
unseemly,
lewd,
X-rated (informal),
impure,
smutty,
ribald,
indelicate
in the sense of impolite
Definition
discourteous
It would be most impolite to refuse a simple invitation to supper.
Synonyms
bad-mannered,
rude,
disrespectful,
rough,
churlish,
boorish,
insolent,
uncouth,
unrefined,
loutish,
ungentlemanly,
ungracious,
discourteous,
indelicate,
uncivil,
unladylike,
indecorous,
ungallant,
ill-bred,
unmannerly,
ill-mannered
Additional synonyms
in the sense of improper
Definition
indecent
The politicians denied any improper behaviour.
Synonyms
indecent,
vulgar,
suggestive,
unseemly,
untoward,
risqué,
smutty,
unbecoming,
unfitting,
impolite,
off-colour,
indelicate,
indecorous
in the sense of indecorous
Synonyms
improper,
rude,
coarse,
indecent,
tasteless,
unseemly,
churlish,
untoward,
undignified,
boorish,
uncouth,
impolite,
immodest,
uncivil,
ill-bred,
unmannerly
in the sense of indelicate
Definition
offensive, embarrassing, or tasteless
She could not touch upon such an indelicate subject.
Synonyms
offensive,
indecent,
vulgar,
low,
blue,
embarrassing,
gross,
crude,
rude,
obscene,
coarse,
improper,
suggestive,
tasteless,
unseemly,
untoward,
risqué,
X-rated (informal),
unbecoming,
off-colour,
immodest,
near the knuckle (informal),
indecorous,
barro (Australian, slang)
in the sense of low
Definition
coarse or vulgar
The film's low comedy is never unlikeable.
Synonyms
coarse,
common,
rough,
gross,
crude,
rude,
obscene,
disgraceful,
vulgar,
undignified,
disreputable,
unbecoming,
unrefined,
dishonourable,
ill-bred
in the sense of mild
Definition
(of a taste or sensation) not strong
The cheese has a soft, mild flavour.
Synonyms
bland,
thin,
smooth,
tasteless,
insipid,
flavourless
in the sense of rude
Definition
vulgar or obscene
He made a rude gesture with his finger.
Synonyms
vulgar,
offensive,
gross,
crude,
obscene,
tasteless,
lewd,
indelicate
in the sense of tacky
Definition
vulgar and tasteless
tacky red sunglasses
Synonyms
vulgar,
cheap (informal),
tasteless,
nasty,
sleazy,
naff (British, slang)
in the sense of tactless
He had alienated many people with his tactless remarks.
Synonyms
insensitive,
thoughtless,
inconsiderate,
sharp,
rough,
harsh,
rude,
blundering,
careless,
clumsy,
inept,
unkind,
gauche,
indiscreet,
boorish,
unfeeling,
imprudent,
impolite,
unsubtle,
discourteous,
injudicious,
indelicate,
undiplomatic,
uncivil,
maladroit,
impolitic
in the sense of tame
Definition
mild and unexciting
The report was pretty tame stuff.
Synonyms
unexciting,
boring,
dull,
bland,
tedious,
flat,
tiresome,
lifeless,
prosaic,
uninspiring,
humdrum,
uninteresting,
insipid,
vapid,
wearisome
in the sense of tawdry
Definition
cheap, showy, and of poor quality
tawdry jewellery
Synonyms
vulgar,
cheap,
tacky (informal),
flashy,
tasteless,
plastic (slang),
glittering,
naff (British, slang),
gaudy,
tatty,
showy,
tinsel,
raffish,
gimcrack,
meretricious,
tinselly,
brummagem,
cheap-jack (informal)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of uncouth
Definition
lacking in good manners, refinement, or grace
that oafish, uncouth person
Synonyms
coarse,
rough,
gross,
awkward,
crude,
rude,
clumsy,
vulgar,
rustic,
barbaric,
unseemly,
ungainly,
boorish,
gawky,
unrefined,
loutish,
graceless,
uncultivated,
uncivilized,
clownish,
oafish,
ill-mannered,
lubberly
in the sense of uninteresting
Definition
boring or dull
Why did he choose these pale, nerveless, uninteresting people?
Synonyms
boring,
dull,
tedious,
flat,
dry,
commonplace,
dreary,
drab,
tiresome,
monotonous,
uninspiring,
humdrum,
uneventful,
mind-numbing,
unexciting,
ho-hum (informal),
wearisome,
unenjoyable,
as dry as dust
in the sense of unseemly
Definition
not according to expected standards of behaviour
It would be unseemly for judges to receive pay increases.