politic
adjective
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Politic behavior in class always requires a respectful attitude toward your teacher. It's never politic to ask for a raise when your boss is in a terrible mood. And once teenagers learn to drive, they quickly learn the politic way to ask for the car—that is, whatever gets the keys without upsetting the parents. As you can see, politic can be used for many situations that have nothing to do with public politics.
Synonyms
- diplomatic
- tactful
Example Sentences
John Fund, National Review, 5 Apr. 2022 But some of those friends were decidedly less politic when contacted by a reporter. New York Times, 16 Oct. 2021 Meanwhile, as the early promise of a coronavirus-free summer has given way to new mask mandates and other restrictions, public hostility toward vaccine holdouts has spurred accusations of politic grandstanding, ignorance and selfishness. Anchorage Daily News, 31 July 2021 Even the ever-politic Hough couldn't come to the animal rescue for the second week. Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 29 Sep. 2020 These actions would be politic as well as morally correct, insuring that the Democratic Party’s most reliable base will be able to vote unimpeded in the 2022 midterms. Jelani Cobb, The New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2020 The mass stoppage wasn't due to the coronavirus, but outrage over another pandemic, that of racial injustice, politic brutality, and the disregard for Black lives. Claire Zillman, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2020 Included with the politic petition were cellphone photos of Cole giving the Nazi salute and standing in front of the Auschwitz death camp in Germany. Phil Helsel, NBC News, 19 Oct. 2019 That included Erniece Winfield, who tried to politic for her son, Antoine Jr., to be drafted onto the Red Bulls. Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 4 Oct. 2019 See More Word History
Middle English politik, pollitique "of spiritual or secular governance, political, sagacious, prudent," borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French politique "of the state, political, of the regulation of social behavior," borrowed from Latin polīticus "of civil government, political" (Medieval Latin, "judicious, prudent"), borrowed from Greek polītikós "of citizens, civic, made up of citizens, of a statesman, of a state, political, public," from polī́tēs "citizen, freeman" + -ikos -ic entry 1 — more at police entry 1
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing politic
politic
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- diplomatic
- polite
- civil
- tactful
- respectful
- thoughtful
- kind
- graceful
- gracious
- courteous
- considerate
- genteel
- deferential
- charming
- gallant
- suave
- regardful
- hospitable
- friendly
- dutiful
- cordial
- delicate
- affable
- mannerly
- genial
- kindhearted
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- impolitic
- tactless
- undiplomatic
- indelicate
- thoughtless
- gauche
- ungracious
- uncivil
- untactful
- discourteous
- inconsiderate
- impolite
- unhandsome
- clownish
- uncouth
- unmannerly
- boorish
- unmannered
- churlish
- insolent
- disrespectful
- impudent
- disregardful
- brassy
- rude
- loutish
- brash
- impertinent
- caddish
- ill-bred
- uncalled-for
- clodhopping
- ill-mannered
Synonyms & Similar Words
- prudent
- tactical
- wise
- expedient
- desirable
- judicious
- possible
- practical
- beneficial
- advisable
- profitable
- advantageous
- utilitarian
- useful
- practicable
- opportunistic
- opportune
- feasible
- seasonable
- timely
- self-seeking
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- unwise
- imprudent
- inexpedient
- injudicious
- unprofitable
- inadvisable
- impractical
- impolitic
- untimely
- unfeasible
- profitless
- inopportune
- unseasonable
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of politic are bland, diplomatic, smooth, suave, and urbane. While all these words mean "pleasantly tactful and well-mannered," politic implies shrewd as well as tactful and suave handling of people.
The synonyms bland and politic are sometimes interchangeable, but bland emphasizes mildness of manner and absence of irritating qualities.
While the synonyms diplomatic and politic are close in meaning, diplomatic stresses an ability to deal with ticklish situations tactfully.
The words smooth and politic are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, smooth suggests often a deliberately assumed suavity.
In some situations, the words suave and politic are roughly equivalent. However, suave suggests a specific ability to deal with others easily and without friction.
While in some cases nearly identical to politic, urbane implies high cultivation and poise coming from wide social experience.
- step aerobics
- step along
- step aside
- step aside (from)
- step aside from
- step back
- step backward
- step backward/forward
- step bearing
- step bolt
- step chair
- step change
- step chuck
- step cut
- step dance
- step down
- step down (from)
- step down from
- step downs
- step fault
- step forward
- step function
- step gauge
- step grate
- step in