Synonyms Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for subtle on Thesaurus.com adjective, sub·tler, sub·tlest. thin, tenuous, or rarefied, as a fluid or an odor. fine or delicate in meaning or intent; difficult to perceive or understand: subtle irony. delicate or faint and mysterious: a subtle smile. requiring mental acuteness, penetration, or discernment: a subtle philosophy. characterized by mental acuteness or penetration: a subtle understanding. cunning, wily, or crafty: a subtle liar. insidious in operation: subtle poison. skillful, clever, or ingenious: a subtle painter. Show More
Origin of subtle 1250–1300; Middle English sotil <
Old French <
Latin subtīlis subtile (
b of modern spelling < L)
Related forms 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 non·sub·t·ly , adverb o·ver·sub·tle , adjective o·ver·sub·tly , adverb pseu·do·sub·tle , adjective pseu·do·sub·t·ly , adverb un·sub·tle , adjective un·sub·tle·ness , noun un·sub·t·ly , adverb Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for subtle ingenious ,
faint ,
slight ,
profound ,
sophisticated ,
indirect ,
exquisite ,
understated ,
precise ,
detailed ,
intriguing ,
sly ,
skillful ,
shrewd ,
insidious ,
complex ,
attenuate ,
deep ,
discriminating ,
ethereal Examples from the Web for subtle Contemporary Examples of subtle Hammerstein continued his subtle quest for racial equanimity in Oklahoma!
In recent days, there has been a subtle feeling of defeat permeating through the camp.
Vreeland believes that in the end, his grandmother put her subtle seal of approval on his lifestyle.
Light amber in color with a subtle sour finish, Fula is one of Casa Bruja's best sellers.
For those who have a problem with that, she offered a charming, subtle middle finger.
Historical Examples of subtle He had breathed into the atmosphere a subtle malaria, and George had caught the disease.
Then, he bethought himself of a subtle form of rebuke by emphasizing his generosity.
The words were uttered with a subtle renunciation that was this man's religion.
Joe was not subtle , not even clever; but he was a lover, and he knew the ways of love.
Though I felt a subtle and wondrous change, I could not trace or track the miracle.
British Dictionary definitions for subtle not immediately obvious or comprehensible difficult to detect or analyse, often through being delicate or highly refined a subtle scent showing or making or capable of showing or making fine distinctions of meaning marked by or requiring mental acuteness or ingenuity; discriminating delicate or faint a subtle shade cunning or wily a subtle rogue operating or executed in secret a subtle intrigue Show More
Derived Forms subtleness , noun subtly , adverb Word Origin for subtle C14: from Old French soutil, from Latin subtīlis finely woven
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for subtle adj. c.1300, sutel, soutil , in reference to things, "of thin consistency;" in reference to craftsmen, "skilled, clever," from Old French soutil , from Latin subtilis "fine, thin, delicate, finely woven," from sub "under" (see sub- ) + -tilis , from tela "web" and texere "to weave" (see texture ). The spelling with -b- reflects confusion with subtile . Most non-material senses were present by late 14c.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
