diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/editor/media/tabstitle.css b/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/editor/media/tabstitle.css
index 17220e633063c7dbb2bc8eca055e67350073f2e0..bf9d83348678f20399f87a7945240290750742b2 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/editor/media/tabstitle.css
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/editor/media/tabstitle.css
@@ -44,15 +44,24 @@
 /* Tab Close */
 
 .monaco-workbench > .part.editor > .content > .one-editor-container .title > .tabs-container > .tab > .tab-close {
-	opacity: 0;
+	opacity: 0; /* hide the close button  by default */
 }
 
-.monaco-workbench > .part.editor > .content > .one-editor-container .title.active > .tabs-container > .tab.active > .tab-close,
-.monaco-workbench > .part.editor > .content > .one-editor-container .title > .tabs-container > .tab.dirty > .tab-close,
-.monaco-workbench > .part.editor > .content > .one-editor-container .title > .tabs-container > .tab:hover > .tab-close {
+.monaco-workbench > .part.editor > .content > .one-editor-container .title.active > .tabs-container > .tab.active > .tab-close,		/* always show it for active tab */
+.monaco-workbench > .part.editor > .content > .one-editor-container .title.active > .tabs-container > .tab:hover > .tab-close,		/* always show it on hover */
+.monaco-workbench > .part.editor > .content > .one-editor-container .title > .tabs-container > .tab.dirty > .tab-close {			/* always show it for dirty tabs */
 	opacity: 1;
 }
 
+.monaco-workbench > .part.editor > .content > .one-editor-container .title > .tabs-container > .tab.active > .tab-close,			/* show dimmed for inactive group */
+.monaco-workbench > .part.editor > .content > .one-editor-container .title > .tabs-container > .tab.active:hover > .tab-close {		/* show dimmed for inactive group */
+	opacity: 0.5;
+}
+
+.monaco-workbench > .part.editor > .content > .one-editor-container .title > .tabs-container > .tab:hover > .tab-close {			/* show more dimmed for inactive group and tab */
+	opacity: 0.4;
+}
+
 .vs .monaco-workbench > .part.editor > .content > .one-editor-container > .title .tabs-container > .tab.dirty .close-editor-action {
 	background: url('close-dirty.svg') center center no-repeat;
 }