highly distasteful act vs. Highly tasteless act

[Letvin]

English Language Proficiency Tests, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #96 "Behaviour Guidline", question 8

Engaging in gossip is a highly ......... act.

(a) distasteful
(b) untasty
(c) tasteless
(d) bland

English Language Proficiency Tests, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #96 "Behaviour Guidline", answer 8

Engaging in gossip is a highly distasteful act.

Correct answer: (a) distasteful

Your answer was: incorrect
Engaging in gossip is a highly tasteless act.
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Why is it incorrect to say 'Engaging in gossip is a highly tasteless act'?

Thank you
Letvin

[Koko]

Dear Alan, please explain for me too.
Best wishes
Koko

[Alan]

Hi Koko,

Welcome to the site.

There is a slight difference between these two adjectives although they both have the suggestion of being unpleasant.

Tasteless to me means something that offends members of the public or a particular group of people as for example a play at the theatre or a programme on television that deals in a negative way on topics such as race, religion or sex.

Distasteful is unpleasant in the sense of referring to behaviour or activity that is not expected in a civilised society.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Subjunctive