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View synonyms for

subtle

[suht-l]

adjective

subtler, subtlest 
  1. thin, tenuous, or rarefied, as a fluid or an odor.

  2. fine or delicate in meaning or intent; difficult to perceive or understand.

    subtle irony.

  3. delicate or faint and mysterious.

    a subtle smile.

  4. requiring mental acuteness, penetration, or discernment.

    a subtle philosophy.

  5. characterized by mental acuteness or penetration.

    a subtle understanding.

  6. cunning, wily, or crafty.

    a subtle liar.

    Synonyms: , , ,
  7. insidious in operation.

    subtle poison.

  8. skillful, clever, or ingenious.

    a subtle painter.



subtle

/ ˈʌə /

adjective

  1. not immediately obvious or comprehensible

  2. difficult to detect or analyse, often through being delicate or highly refined

    a subtle scent

  3. showing or making or capable of showing or making fine distinctions of meaning

  4. marked by or requiring mental acuteness or ingenuity; discriminating

  5. delicate or faint

    a subtle shade

  6. cunning or wily

    a subtle rogue

  7. operating or executed in secret

    a subtle intrigue

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • subtleness noun
  • subtly adverb
  • hypersubtle adjective
  • hypersubtleness noun
  • nonsubtle adjective
  • nonsubtleness noun
  • oversubtle adjective
  • pseudosubtle adjective
  • unsubtle adjective
  • unsubtleness noun
  • ˈܲٱԱ noun
  • ˈܲٱ adverb
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Word History and Origins

Origin of subtle1

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English sotil, from Old French, from Latin ܲī “subtile” (the b of modern spelling is from Latin ); subtile
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Word History and Origins

Origin of subtle1

C14: from Old French soutil, from Latin ܲī finely woven
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Selecting all-rounders Green and Webster weakens Australia's batting, and could be a subtle indication they are trying to have enough overs at their disposal to protect their old pacers.

From

He is a humble and quietly spoken leader in the dressing room, dovetailing with the subtle acumen of head coach Shukri Conrad.

From

While they may be too subtle for an untrained viewer to notice, certain design changes have been made that differentiate the live-action Toothless from his animated counterpart.

From

He's not subtle, and it's a failure of the media every time they report on the "violence" without noting that Trump was the instigator.

From

After hundreds of similar nights, people in Kyiv can sense the subtle shifts in technology as Russia develops its capability.

From

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