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Taboo vs Tact - What's the difference?

taboo | tact |

As nouns the difference between taboo and tact

is that taboo is an inhibition or ban that results from social custom or emotional aversion while tact is the sense of touch; feeling.

As verbs the difference between taboo and tact

is that taboo is to mark as taboo while tact is (psychology) to use a tact (a kind of verbal operant; see noun sense).

As an adjective taboo

is excluded or forbidden from use, approach or mention.

taboo

English

(wikipedia taboo)

Alternative forms

* tabu

Noun

(en noun)
  • An inhibition or ban that results from social custom or emotional aversion.
  • *
  • * 1974 , (Lawrence Durrell), Monsieur , Faber & Faber 1992, p. 213:
    • The sharp differentiation of the sexes in our culture was shaped most probably by monogamy and monosexuality and their tabus .
  • (in Polynesia) Something which may not be used, approached or mentioned because it is sacred.

    • Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Excluded or forbidden from use, approach or mention.
    • Incest is a taboo subject in most soap operas.
  • Culturally forbidden.

    • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To mark as taboo.
  • To ban.
  • To avoid.

    • Anagrams

    *

    tact

    English

    (wikipedia tact) (Webster 1913)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The sense of touch; feeling.
  • *
    • Did you suppose that I could not make myself sensible to tact as well as sight?
  • * J. Le Conte
    • Now, sight is a very refined tact .
  • (music) The stroke in beating time.
  • Sensitive mental touch; peculiar skill or faculty; nice perception or discernment; ready power of appreciating and doing what is required by circumstances.
  • *
    • He had formed plans not inferior in grandeur and boldness to those of Richelieu, and had carried them into effect with a tact and wariness worthy of Mazarin.
  • *
    • A tact' which surpassed the '''tact''' of her sex as much as the '''tact''' of her sex surpassed the ' tact of ours.
  • The ability to deal with embarrassing situations carefully and without doing or saying anything that will annoy or upset other people; careful consideration in dealing with others to avoid giving offense; the ability to say the right thing.
    • By the use of tact , she was able to calm her jealous husband.
    I used tact when I told my fat uncle that his extra weight made him look better.
  • (psychology) A verbal operant which is controlled by a nonverbal stimulus (such as an object, event, or property of an object) and is maintained by nonspecific social reinforcement (praise).
  • * 2013 , Jacob L. Gewirtz, William M. Kurtines, Jacob L. Lamb, Intersections With Attachment
    • Skinner (1957) saw such tacts as responses that are reinforced socially.

    Derived terms

    * tactful * tactless

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (psychology) To use a tact (a kind of verbal operant; see noun sense).

    • External links

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