Meaning & use
tactilely
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Meaning
adverbnot comparable
In a way that relates to the sense of touch, or by means of touching.
Grammar: Usually describes how something is perceived or designed: tactilely engaging, tactilely rich.
Patterns
- tactilely appealing
- explore something tactilely
The sculpture is tactilely inviting, with smooth curves that beg to be handled.
Blind readers explore the map tactilely, following raised lines.
The fabric is tactilely pleasing, soft and slightly heavy.
Common combinations
- tactilely rich
- The room was tactilely rich, full of wool, wood and stone.
- tactilely engaging
- Toddlers prefer tactilely engaging toys.
- tactilely pleasing
- The book's cover is tactilely pleasing.
- explore tactilely
- Visitors can explore the exhibit tactilely.
- experience tactilely
- Some artworks are meant to be experienced tactilely.
Synonyms and how they differ
- by touch
- By touch is plain and everyday, whereas tactilely sounds technical or literary.
- haptically
- Haptically is used in science and technology, especially about touch feedback in devices.
- physically
- Physically refers to the body broadly, and it does not point to touch specifically.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: tactilely or tactically?
tactilely vs tactically
Tactically relates to planned actions or strategy, not to touch, although the spelling is similar.
Practice
The museum designed its exhibit to be experienced ______, so visitors may handle every object.
Choose one answer.
Tactilely means by touch, which fits objects that can be handled. Tactfully and tactlessly describe sensitivity to others, and tactically concerns strategy.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “tactilely”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.