impolitic

/ɪmˌpɑləˈtɪk/

Other forms: impolitically; impoliticly

If you've ever put your foot in your mouth, you've probably said something impolitic. If you have made an impolitic statement, it was a politically unwise one.

It is impolitic to fail to remember flowers for your beloved on Valentine's Day, or to fail to show up in class when your grade point average is hanging by a thread. Remember back in 1981 when then U.S. Secretary of State Alexander Haig informed the press after the assassination attempt on President Reagan that "I am in control here?" Well that was a classic impolitic statement. Poor guy resigned the following year.

Definitions of impolitic

1. adjective

   lacking tact, shrewdness, or prudence
   “an impolitic approach to a sensitive issue”

   synonyms:

   inexpedient

   not suitable or advisable

   inexpedient, unwise

   not appropriate to the purpose

   foolish

   devoid of good sense or judgment

   antonyms:

   politic

   marked by artful prudence, expedience, and shrewdness

   diplomatic, diplomatical

   using or marked by tact in dealing with sensitive matters or people

   expedient

   appropriate to a purpose; practical

   sagacious

   skillful in statecraft or management