subtle
Americanadjective
-
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.
adjective
-
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
Other Word Forms
- hypersubtle adjective
- hypersubtleness noun
- nonsubtle adjective
- nonsubtleness noun
- oversubtle adjective
- pseudosubtle adjective
- subtleness noun
- subtly adverb
- unsubtle adjective
- unsubtleness noun
Etymology
Origin of subtle
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English sotil, from Old French, from Latin subtīlis “subtile” (the b of modern spelling is from Latin ); subtile
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Many companies have already been in their unofficial “quiet period” for weeks so even subtle messages to the investor community are frowned upon.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026
Software vulnerabilities exposed by Mythos were often subtle and difficult to detect without AI, according to Anthropic.
From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026
It’s a subtle shift where “treat yourself” moments — like frequent dinners out or luxury upgrades — slowly morph into consistent, insidious monthly expenses.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 7, 2026
North of the pavement, the North Algodones Dunes Wilderness holds a quieter terrain, where sunflower, ephedra and honey mesquite anchor the sand in subtle defiance of the wind.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026
Such potshots, he felt, diminished him—however subtle they might be.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
