subtle
Americanadjective
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subtler,
comparative
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subtlest
superlative
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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.
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requiring mental acuteness, penetration, or discernment.
a subtle philosophy.
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characterized by mental acuteness or penetration.
a subtle understanding.
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cunning, wily, or crafty.
a subtle liar.
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insidious in operation.
subtle poison.
-
skillful, clever, or ingenious.
a subtle painter.
adjective
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not immediately obvious or comprehensible
-
difficult to detect or analyse, often through being delicate or highly refined
a subtle scent
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showing or making or capable of showing or making fine distinctions of meaning
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marked by or requiring mental acuteness or ingenuity; discriminating
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delicate or faint
a subtle shade
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cunning or wily
a subtle rogue
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operating or executed in secret
a subtle intrigue
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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hypersubtlenessnoun
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nonsubtlenessnoun
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subtlenessnoun
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unsubtlenessnoun
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hypersubtleadjective
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nonsubtleadjective
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oversubtleadjective
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pseudosubtleadjective
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unsubtleadjective
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subtlyadverb
Inflected Forms
Adjectives
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 ); see subtile
Explanation
Something that is subtle is not obvious: a professional food taster might be able to perceive subtle differences of flavor that most people don't notice. Subtle is used for things that are hard to describe because of their complexity or delicacy: a way of thinking, arguing, or creating a work of art. The word is pronounced like "suttle" and it was originally spelled that way when it was borrowed from Old French, but the b got imported to make the word look more like its ultimate source, the Latin adjective subtilis. But don't pronounce the b — that won't be very subtle!
Vocabulary lists containing subtle
100 Top "SAT" Words
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Latin Root "sub" Words
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The Silent Treatment: Words Plagued by Silent Letters
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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.
See Examples For:
Every inch of this house-shaped book contributes to the subtle spookiness of our tale, starting with the cover.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
"Within that loop we found subtle, yet consistent, clues to its behavior."
From Science Daily ● Aug. 11, 2026
Recognizable by a subtle sparkly strip hidden inside a collar or on an aglet at the end of a drawstring cord, Cucinelli’s luxury clothing brand employs a muted palette of tans and grays.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026
Once shared online, people meticulously study the choreography in them and delight in catching subtle movements and expressions by their favourite band members.
From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026
She acknowledges his presence with a single, subtle nod.
From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern
The effect Smith’s spring training work behind the plate will have on the Dodgers’ season will be subtler.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 29, 2026
What draws him most is subtler than that.
From BBC ● Apr. 29, 2026
She displayed “Poppy,” a squeegee abstract in cheery red and blue hues, in her living room, with an untitled version in subtler white and green hues from 2009 hanging in her bedroom.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 9, 2026
More mature consumers are likely to stick with natural, subtler looks, she said.
From MarketWatch ● Feb. 7, 2026
Are there smaller, subtler, easier ways to make something stick?
From "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell
The film won’t win any prizes for the subtlest metaphor of the year.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2025
In his subtlest, most challenging and finest performance since his Oscar-nominated double role in “Adaptation.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 4, 2024
The group’s project, which is sponsored by the Colombian government, focuses on the subtlest, non-motor symptoms of the disease.
From New York Times ● May 23, 2023
"Blinks are one of the subtlest of human movements, so designing mechanisms that can mimic these movements require advanced technology, such as high-precision motors," Ms Kiilavuori explains.
From BBC ● May 4, 2023
Blue skies, cool temperatures, the subtlest of breezes.
From "The Mysterious Benedict Society" by Trenton Lee Stewart
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.
