indelicate

[ in-del-i-kit ]

adjective

1. offensive to a sense of generally accepted propriety, modesty, or decency; improper, unrefined, or coarse:

   indelicate language.

   Synonyms: untactful, rude, gauche, indecorous

2. not delicate; lacking delicacy; rough.

indelicate

/ ɪnˈdɛlɪkɪt /

adjective

1. coarse, crude, or rough
2. offensive, embarrassing, or tasteless

Derived Forms

• inˈdelicately, adverb
• inˈdelicacy, noun

Other Words From

• in·deli·cate·ly adverb
• in·deli·cate·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of indelicate¹

First recorded in 1735–45; in- ³ + delicate

Example Sentences

Fisher, whose net worth is estimated by Forbes to be $3 billion, is the quintessential member of the Lucky Sperm Club, not to be indelicate.

From Los Angeles Times

Under its showrunners, Rich Appel and Alec Sulkin, “Family Guy” continues to carve out its own indelicate but undeniably funny path on Fox, FXX and Hulu.

From Los Angeles Times

Seems indelicate to say you’re having a senior moment.

From Los Angeles Times

From its playfully inventive opening to its flash-forward finale, Thomas Hardiman’s wild — and wildly impressive — first feature, set during a British regional hairdressing competition, is a proudly indelicate, painstakingly structured pleasure.

From New York Times

It’s hard to be sure whether Bud Light’s continuing sales slump is due to the anti-woke publicity or to the fact that, not to be indelicate, the product tastes like it’s been strained through a horse.

From Los Angeles Times