INDELICACY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does indelicacy mean? 

• INDELICACY (noun)
  The noun INDELICACY has 2 senses:

1. the trait of being indelicate and offensive

2. an impolite act or expression

  Familiarity information: INDELICACY used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• INDELICACY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The trait of being indelicate and offensive

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("indelicacy" is a kind of...):

improperness; impropriety (an improper demeanor)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "indelicacy"):

gaminess; raciness; ribaldry; spiciness (behavior or language bordering on indelicacy)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An impolite act or expression

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("indelicacy" is a kind of...):

discourtesy; offence; offense; offensive activity (a lack of politeness; a failure to show regard for others; wounding the feelings or others)

 Context examples 

What could he mean by such horrible indelicacy?

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

But there seems an indelicacy in directing his attentions towards her so soon after this event.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

But it was not to be avoided: he made her feel that she was the object of all; though she could not say that it was unpleasantly done, that there was indelicacy or ostentation in his manner; and sometimes, when he talked of William, he was really not unagreeable, and shewed even a warmth of heart which did him credit.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

No one could dispute her right to come; the house was her husband's from the moment of his father's decease; but the indelicacy of her conduct was so much the greater, and to a woman in Mrs. Dashwood's situation, with only common feelings, must have been highly unpleasing;—but in HER mind there was a sense of honor so keen, a generosity so romantic, that any offence of the kind, by whomsoever given or received, was to her a source of immovable disgust.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

She saw the indelicacy of putting himself forward as he had done, and the inconsistency of his professions with his conduct.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)