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subtlety

[suht-l-tee]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

plural

subtleties

the state or quality of being subtle.
delicacy or nicety of character or meaning.
acuteness or penetration of mind; delicacy of discrimination.
a fine-drawn distinction; refinement of reasoning.
the subtleties of logic.
something subtle.
History/Historical.��an elaborate confection, ornate in construction and ornamentation, sometimes edible but more often made and used as a decoration for a table or buffet.

subtlety

/ ˈ��ʌ��ə��ɪ /

noun

the state or quality of being subtle; delicacy
a fine distinction or the ability to make such a distinction
something subtle

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Other Word Forms

hypersubtlety noun
nonsubtlety noun
oversubtlety noun

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Word History and Origins

Origin of subtlety¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English subtelte, sutilte, from Old French sutilte, from Latin ��ܲ��ī��-, stem of ��ܲ��ī�� “fineness,” equivalent to ��ܲ��ī��(��) “fine, slender” ( subtile ) + -ty ²

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

These artists know that flamboyance needn’t preclude subtlety, and that stardom neither guarantees nor bars revelation.

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By hearing a victim's story in this way, the idea is it would make them conscious about subtleties such as body language and how they respond, which can influence a survivor's willingness to talk openly.

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The sound stage was too loud for vocal subtleties and too flat for careful instrumental and electronic music balance.

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After all, that’s how they pick up language, learn to recognize their family members and begin to understand the subtleties of their cultures.

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There's danger, as well, in equating subtlety with thoughtfulness.

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Related Words

elegance��
intricacy��

subtle subtly

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