tasteless
gb/tˈeɪstləs/ us/tˈeɪstləs/
B2
English
ízetlen, ízléstelen, giccses
B2
1
ízetlen
B1
Usage pattern:
[food/drink] is tasteless
The soup was tasteless until she added salt and lemon.
A leves ízetlen volt, amíg nem tett bele sót és citromot.
These tomatoes look great, but they’re completely tasteless.
Ezek a paradicsomok remekül néznek ki, de teljesen ízetlenek.
The medicine is almost tasteless, so it’s easy to swallow.
Learner examples
This chicken is tasteless.
Ez a csirke ízetlen.
I added garlic because the sauce was tasteless.
Tettem bele fokhagymát, mert a szósz ízetlen volt.
Common mistake:
Tasteless usually means “not much flavor,” not “a bad or unpleasant flavor” (that is more often bad-tasting or nasty).
Meaning
having little or no flavor
Collocations
tasteless food
|tasteless soup
|tasteless sauce
|tasteless rice
|tasteless chicken
|tasteless vegetables
|tasteless water
|tasteless medicine
|tasteless meal
|tasteless dish
Synonyms
bland (Common and natural for food with little flavor.)
|
flavorless (Directly emphasizes lack of flavor.)
|
insipid (More formal; suggests dull, boring taste.)
Antonyms
flavorful (Has a lot of flavor.)
|
tasty (Pleasant to eat; general opposite.)
|
delicious (Strongly positive and enjoyable taste.)
Themes
food_and_drink
|daily_life
Definition
If food is tasteless, it has almost no flavor.
Having very little taste; lacking flavor.
C1
2
ízléstelen
B1
Usage pattern:
a tasteless [joke/remark/comment] | It is tasteless to [do something]
He made a tasteless joke about the accident, and everyone went quiet.
Ízléstelen viccet mondott a balesetről, és mindenki elhallgatott.
The article’s headline was tasteless given what the family had been through.
A cikk címe ízléstelen volt azok után, amin a család keresztülment.
It would be tasteless to bring up money at a memorial service.
Learner examples
That joke was tasteless.
Az a vicc ízléstelen volt.
It is tasteless to laugh at someone’s illness.
Ízléstelen dolog valaki betegségén nevetni.
Common mistake:
This meaning is about manners and sensitivity, not about food.
Meaning
offensive or insensitive
Collocations
tasteless joke
|tasteless remark
|tasteless comment
|tasteless humor
|tasteless reference
|tasteless meme
|tasteless prank
|tasteless advertisement
|tasteless question
|tasteless behavior
Synonyms
offensive (Strong and direct; emphasizes causing offense.)
|
inappropriate (More general; not suitable for the situation.)
|
insensitive (Emphasizes not caring about others’ feelings.)
Antonyms
tasteful (Shows good judgment; not offensive.)
|
appropriate (Suitable and acceptable for the situation.)
|
respectful (Shows consideration for others.)
Themes
social_issues
|communication
|emotions
Definition
If something is tasteless, it is rude or offensive.
Showing poor judgment about what is appropriate or respectful; likely to offend people.
C1
3
ízléstelen
B1
giccses
B2
Usage pattern:
tasteless [clothes/decor/design]
The room was full of tasteless decorations and bright plastic flowers.
A szoba tele volt ízléstelen díszekkel és rikító művirágokkal.
He thinks the gold-plated phone case looks classy, but it’s tasteless.
Szerinte az aranyozott telefontok elegáns, pedig ízléstelen.
The redesign removed the tasteless fonts and clashing colors.
Learner examples
That outfit is tasteless.
Az az öltözék ízléstelen.
The hotel lobby looks tasteless.
A szálloda hallja ízléstelennek tűnik.
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse tasteful (good style) with tasty (good flavor).
Meaning
lacking good style or design
Collocations
tasteless decor
|tasteless decoration
|tasteless design
|tasteless outfit
|tasteless clothes
|tasteless colors
|tasteless furniture
|tasteless logo
|tasteless interior
|tasteless style
Synonyms
tacky (Very common; suggests cheap or showy bad style.)
|
gaudy (Too bright or flashy in an ugly way.)
|
kitsch (Suggests overly sentimental or “cheap art” style; often used in art/design contexts.)
Antonyms
stylish (Fashionable and attractive.)
|
elegant (Attractive in a simple, refined way.)
|
tasteful (Shows good aesthetic judgment.)
Themes
art_and_design
|fashion
|daily_life
Definition
If something looks tasteless, it is ugly or badly designed.
Lacking good aesthetic judgment; unattractive in a way that seems showy, cheap, or poorly chosen.
Grammar
Dictionary form
tasteless
IPA
GB/tˈeɪstləs/
US/tˈeɪstləs/
Syllables & stress
taste - less (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (taste)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: tasteless
Expressions
tasteless and odorless
1/tˈeɪstləs ˈænd ˈoʊdɚləs/
fixed phrase
technical
having no taste or smell
If something is tasteless and odorless, you cannot taste or smell it.
Examples
- Carbon monoxide is tasteless and odorless, which makes it especially dangerous.
- The chemical is described as colorless, tasteless, and odorless.
- Because the gas is tasteless and odorless, a detector is essential.
Learner examples
- This gas is tasteless and odorless.
tasteless food
1/tˈeɪstləs fˈud/
fixed phrase
food with no flavor
Tasteless food has almost no flavor.
Examples
- Hospital meals are sometimes tasteless food that needs extra seasoning.
- The diet is healthy, but the tasteless food makes it hard to follow.
- He complained about the tasteless food on the flight.
Learner examples
- The food is tasteless.
- I don’t like tasteless food.
tasteless humor
1/tˈeɪstləs hjˈumɚ/
fixed phrase
humor that offends people
Tasteless humor is joking that is rude or insensitive.
Examples
- The show relies on tasteless humor instead of good writing.
- He enjoys tasteless humor, but his friends don’t.
- The comedian was criticized for tasteless humor about serious topics.
Learner examples
- I don’t like tasteless humor.
tasteless joke
1/tˈeɪstləs d͡ʒˈoʊk/
fixed phrase
an offensive joke
A tasteless joke is a rude joke that can hurt people.
Examples
- He told a tasteless joke about the disaster, and people were shocked.
- Please don’t make tasteless jokes at work.
- She apologized for what she admitted was a tasteless joke.
Learner examples
- He made a tasteless joke.
- That was a tasteless joke.
tasteless remark
1/tˈeɪstləs ɹɪmˈɑɹk/
fixed phrase
an offensive comment
A tasteless remark is a rude or insensitive comment.
Examples
- He made a tasteless remark about her appearance.
- It was a tasteless remark, especially in front of the children.
- After his tasteless remark, the conversation quickly ended.
Learner examples
- She made a tasteless remark.
- His remark was tasteless.