nuanced

American  

[noo-ahnst, nyoo-, noo-ahnst, nyoo-] / ˈnu ɑnst, ˈnyu-, nuˈɑnst, nyu- /

adjective

1. expressing or involving subtle distinctions: Life is wonderfully nuanced, textured, complicated, beautiful, and rich.

   Their opinions are always nuanced and informing.

   Life is wonderfully nuanced, textured, complicated, beautiful, and rich.

2. characterized by slight difference or variation in color, tone, flavor, etc..

   Dawn and dusk imposed softer, darker shades of nuanced, shadowed light.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of nuance.

Other Word Forms

• unnuanced
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of nuanced

nuanc(e) ( def. ) + -ed ³ ( def. )

Explanation

Something that's nuanced has subtle details that make it complex and interesting. A nuanced conversation isn't just small talk — it really makes you think. Nuanced is one of those words that attempts to capture an elusive quality. When a book or movie is described as nuanced, it implies a work that's meaningful and complicated, with relationships between characters that seem as multi-layered and subtle as real life. Nuance means "slight degree of difference," from the French nuer, "to shade," and a Latin root that means "a cloud or vapor."

Example Sentences

Dr de Oliveira said: "Nuanced science and management actions, including reforestation, forest management and agroforestry will be necessary to avert the risk of 'runaway' forest fire and degradation that is decoupled from deforestation."

From Science Daily • Oct. 16, 2023

Nuanced antiheroes were not this show’s jam, and never did dark doings define the day.

From Seattle Times • May 31, 2023

Nuanced it is not, but it is a fascinating adaptation of what seemed to be unfilmable source material that takes place mostly over text and in Margot’s head.

From Washington Post • Jan. 23, 2023

Unfortunately, this isn’t the Nuanced Characterization Report; it’s the Hack Report — and aside from some Stage Two visualizations and the occasional webcam login, there were barely any computers at all this week.

From The Verge • Oct. 26, 2017

Nuanced characters, women that are driving the stories, and it's so different than it was and it's exciting and it's fun.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 1, 2017