Geschmacklose

Geschmacklose is the inflected form of the German adjective geschmacklos, used before a noun to describe something lacking taste or tact. The term covers both literal senses, such as food that has little flavor, and figurative senses, such as behavior, design, or humor that is considered crude or inappropriate. In everyday language, geschmacklos is common in discussions of aesthetics, social conduct, advertising, or media content.

Etymology and scope: geschmacklos is built from Geschmack (taste) and the suffix -los (without). The expression signals a deficiency in refinement or tact, rather than a simple preference. Its applicability ranges from culinary critique to moral or cultural judgments, making it a versatile negative descriptor in German.

Grammar and usage: geschmacklose appears in various gender and number combinations depending on the noun it modifies. Examples include eine geschmacklose Bemerkung (a tasteless remark), ein geschmackloses Outfit (a tasteless outfit), and geschmacklose Werbung (tasteless advertising). In plural form, die geschmacklosen Bemerkungen or die geschmacklosen Outfits describe multiple tasteless items. In tonal terms, the word carries a negative connotation and can be subject to variation in intensity, from mild critique to strong reproach.

Related terms and nuance: related nouns include Geschmacklosigkeit (tastelessness) and phrases like in gutem Geschmack (in good taste) versus in schlechtem Geschmack (in bad taste). The term is often used in media criticism, social commentary, and everyday evaluation of style, decor, or discourse.

See also: Geschmacklosigkeit; Geschmack; in gutem Geschmack; in schlechtem Geschmack.