tactic

/ˈtæktɪk/

noun 3adj 2

Collocations

(noun.)

ADJ

subtle

legitimate

The coach explained that defensive strategies were a legitimate tactic in professional sports.

devious, dubious, underhand | aggressive, bully-boy, bullying, extreme, guerrilla, heavy-handed, militant, revolutionary, scare, shock, strong-arm, terror, violent | non-violent, softly-softly | psychological | smear

avoidance, delaying, diversionary, spoiling, stalling

His constant complaints were just a spoiling tactic to ruin the celebration for everyone else.

negative, time-wasting

The team's time-wasting tactics frustrated the referee and the opposing players.

short-term | campaigning, marketing, negotiating, promotional | military, naval, parliamentary, police, political

VERB + TACTIC

decide on, discuss, plan, talk (about), work out

The team worked out a new tactic to defend against their opponents' fast attacks.

adopt, apply, deploy, employ, try, use

The coach decided to deploy defensive tactics after falling behind in the second half.

resort to, stoop to

When the team was losing badly, they resorted to defensive tactics to avoid further embarrassment.

change, rethink, switch

The team changed tactics at halftime and managed to score three goals.

demand, require

Winning that negotiation required a completely different tactic than we had planned.

TACTIC + VERB

pay off, succeed, work

The team's defensive tactics worked well enough to win the match.

fail

PREP

~ for

The coach explained several tactics for winning close games against stronger teams.

Definitions

noun

A maneuver, or action calculated to achieve some end.

Omar has challenged Elliott Abrams’s record in Latin America, taken a firm line against Saudi Arabia and the Emirates, and advocated for—wait for it—the two-state solution for Israel and Palestine (even though the headlines have focused on her expressing support for the right to boycott as a tactic).

A maneuver used against an enemy.

A sequence of moves that limits the opponent's options and results in an immediate and tangible advantage, typically in the form of material.

adj

Tactical; of or relating to the art of military and naval tactics.

But time will teach the Russ, ev'n conquering War Has handmaid arts: aye, aye, the Russ will woo All sciences that speed Bellona's car, All murder's tactic arts, and win them too […]

Describing a polymer whose repeat units are identical

Thesaurus

Synonyms

noun — a plan for attaining a particular goal

Antonyms

Idioms & Phrases

Example Bank

Wiktionary

But time will teach the Russ, ev'n conquering War Has handmaid arts: aye, aye, the Russ will woo All sciences that speed Bellona's car, All murder's tactic arts, and win them too […]

Wiktionary

Racial profiling is a controversial police tactic.

Tatoeba · #715783

Playing with another's confusion is a good tactic.

Tatoeba · #1171204

The tactic worked.

Tatoeba · #1737470

The football manager tried an elaborate new tactic but it didn't come off.

Tatoeba · #3940817

Usage Notes

i Register

In some senses, tactic is marked as dated. Watch for register when choosing this word.

Your note

not saved

0 chars