subtle
Americanadjective
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thin, tenuous, or rarefied, as a fluid or an odor.
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fine or delicate in meaning or intent; difficult to perceive or understand.
subtle irony.
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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.
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skillful, clever, or ingenious.
a subtle painter.
adjective
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not immediately obvious or comprehensible
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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
- 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.
While these differences are subtle, they play a critical role in many scientific applications.
From Science Daily
In quieter conditions, closing the eyes may still improve the ability to detect subtle sounds.
From Science Daily
Lampard wasn't as subtle as those three but his intelligence and timing to run into the penalty area and get on the end of things was the best out of any midfield player.
From BBC
Swim, the album's first single, is subtle and restrained, the sort of music that drifts lazily into your ears before getting stuck on your internal radio.
From BBC
Whatever subtle manipulations the producers employed to move him into the next desired position, they have backed the right horse.
From Los Angeles Times
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.
