subtle

[ suht-l ]

adjective

, sub·tler, sub·tlest.

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: slick, foxy, tricky, sly

7. insidious in operation:

   subtle poison.

8. skillful, clever, or ingenious:

   a subtle painter.

subtle

/ ˈsʌtəl /

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

Derived Forms

• ˈsubtleness, noun
• ˈsubtly, adverb

Other Words From

• sub·tle·ness noun
• sub·tly adverb
• hy·per·sub·tle adjective
• hy·per·sub·tle·ness noun
• non·sub·tle adjective
• non·sub·tle·ness noun
• o·ver·sub·tle adjective
• pseu·do·sub·tle adjective
• un·sub·tle adjective
• un·sub·tle·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of subtle¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of subtle¹

C14: from Old French soutil, from Latin subtīlis finely woven

Example Sentences

Again, the difference can seem subtle and sound more like splitting hairs, but the difference is important.

From The Daily Beast

At that time, pre -9/11, the links were more subtle and had to be hunted down.

From The Daily Beast

Hammerstein continued his subtle quest for racial equanimity in Oklahoma!

From The Daily Beast

In recent days, there has been a subtle feeling of defeat permeating through the camp.

From The Daily Beast

Vreeland believes that in the end, his grandmother put her subtle seal of approval on his lifestyle.

From The Daily Beast

Her voice was stern; it bore to the girl's ears a subtle, unworded repetition of the threat the Marquise had already voiced.

From Project Gutenberg

It was a curious moment, charged with a subtle perplexity of emotions none of them quite understood.

From Project Gutenberg

It was the spiritual way, whose method and secret lie in that subtle paradox: Yield to conquer.

From Project Gutenberg

A subtle current of desire passed through her body, weakening her hold upon the brushes and making her eyes burn.

From Project Gutenberg

The champagne was cold, and its subtle fumes played fantastic tricks with Edna's memory that night.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• complex
• detailed
• insidious
• intriguing
• precise
• shrewd
• skillful
• sly