diplomatic
adjective
dip·lo·mat·ic ˌdi-plə-ˈma-tik 
1
a
: paleographic
b
: exactly reproducing the original
a diplomatic edition
2
: of, relating to, or concerned with the art and practice of conducting negotiations between nations : of, relating to, or concerned with diplomacy or diplomats
diplomatic relations
3
: employing tact and conciliation especially in situations of stress
a diplomatic way to say no
diplomatically
ˌdi-plə-ˈma-ti-k(ə-)lē
adverb 
Synonyms
- politic
- tactful
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Negotiators are working to restore full diplomatic relations. a diplomatic attempt at preventing any hurt feelings
Recent Examples on the Web A week after Griner was arrested, when Russia had invaded Ukraine, diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Russia had been severed, and heavy sanctions imposed. 
Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 11 Sep. 2022 Interior Ministry said Saturday that one of its border systems was hit by a cyberattack that came from the same Iranian source as an earlier attack that led the country to break diplomatic relations with Iran. Llazar Semini, ajc, 10 Sep. 2022 In recent weeks, China and Russia have engaged in war games, renegotiated gas deals to better behoove their economies and have increasingly distanced themselves from diplomatic relations with Western nations. Caitlin Mcfall, Fox News, 7 Sep. 2022 Moscow had since established formal diplomatic relations with Seoul as part of its hopes to draw South Korean investment and allowed its Soviet-era military alliance with North Korea to expire. Aamer Madhani, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Sep. 2022 About 6 of 10 stops in the Del Rio sector were migrants from Venezuela, Cuba or Nicaragua, who are likely to be released to pursue their immigration cases because poor diplomatic relations with those countries means the U.S. can't send them home. Acacia Coronado, Chron, 2 Sep. 2022 Israel, which established diplomatic relations with Bahrain in 2020 as part of the U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords, has, for the first time, a military adviser working out of the Fifth Fleet headquarters in Manama. Dion Nissenbaum, WSJ, 31 Aug. 2022 Colombia and Venezuela have reestablished diplomatic relations, in a tectonic shift in South American regional politics. Stefano Pozzebon, CNN, 29 Aug. 2022 The rest, including the United States, do not have formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Lyric Li, Washington Post, 18 Aug. 2022 See More
Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 11 Sep. 2022 Interior Ministry said Saturday that one of its border systems was hit by a cyberattack that came from the same Iranian source as an earlier attack that led the country to break diplomatic relations with Iran. Llazar Semini, ajc, 10 Sep. 2022 In recent weeks, China and Russia have engaged in war games, renegotiated gas deals to better behoove their economies and have increasingly distanced themselves from diplomatic relations with Western nations. Caitlin Mcfall, Fox News, 7 Sep. 2022 Moscow had since established formal diplomatic relations with Seoul as part of its hopes to draw South Korean investment and allowed its Soviet-era military alliance with North Korea to expire. Aamer Madhani, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Sep. 2022 About 6 of 10 stops in the Del Rio sector were migrants from Venezuela, Cuba or Nicaragua, who are likely to be released to pursue their immigration cases because poor diplomatic relations with those countries means the U.S. can't send them home. Acacia Coronado, Chron, 2 Sep. 2022 Israel, which established diplomatic relations with Bahrain in 2020 as part of the U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords, has, for the first time, a military adviser working out of the Fifth Fleet headquarters in Manama. Dion Nissenbaum, WSJ, 31 Aug. 2022 Colombia and Venezuela have reestablished diplomatic relations, in a tectonic shift in South American regional politics. Stefano Pozzebon, CNN, 29 Aug. 2022 The rest, including the United States, do not have formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Lyric Li, Washington Post, 18 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
in sense 1, from New Latin diplomaticus, from Latin diplomat-, diploma; in other senses, from French diplomatique connected with documents regulating international relations, from New Latin diplomaticus
First Known Use
1711, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing diplomatic
Kids Definition
diplomatic
adjective
dip·lo·mat·ic ˌdi-plə-ˈma-tik
1
: of or relating to keeping good relations between the governments of different countries
2
: not causing bad feelings
a diplomatic answer
a diplomatic manager
diplomatically
adverb
as in tactfully
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- tactfully
- politely
- courteously
- civilly
- wordily
- verbosely
- mendaciously
- deceitfully
- untruthfully
- hypocritically
- insincerely
- ambiguously
- indirectly
- evasively
- long-windedly
- falsely
- erroneously
- equivocally
- fallaciously
- circuitously
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- plainly
- forthrightly
- straightforwardly
- directly
- openly
- straightforward
- straight
- plain
- candidly
- frankly
- honestly
- baldly
- unreservedly
- simply
- sincerely
- earnestly
- straightforwards
- unguardedly
- foursquare
- artlessly
- bluffly
- openheartedly