subtlety

[suht-l-tee]

noun

plural

subtleties 

1. the state or quality of being subtle.

2. delicacy or nicety of character or meaning.

3. acuteness or penetration of mind; delicacy of discrimination.

4. a fine-drawn distinction; refinement of reasoning.

   the subtleties of logic.

5. something subtle.

6. History/Historical.,  an elaborate confection, ornate in construction and ornamentation, sometimes edible but more often made and used as a decoration for a table or buffet.

subtlety

/ ˈsʌtəltɪ /

noun

1. the state or quality of being subtle; delicacy

2. a fine distinction or the ability to make such a distinction

3. something subtle

Other Word Forms

• hypersubtlety noun
• nonsubtlety noun
• oversubtlety noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of subtlety¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English subtelte, sutilte, from Old French sutilte, from Latin subtīlitāt-, stem of subtīlitās “fineness,” equivalent to subtīli(s) “fine, slender” ( subtile ) + -ty ²

Example Sentences

Roe and Nechita, who don’t play their roles with any subtlety.

From Los Angeles Times

Another review said Roy explores urban alienation with "remarkable subtlety", praising her deliberately slow, observational style of filming which allows the "emotional terrain" of the characters to emerge with clarity.

From BBC

Working this way requires a deep sensitivity to subtlety, to decay, resonance, extremes, and to how sound lives after it’s been struck.

From Los Angeles Times

Already, Tipping is as allergic to subtlety as a forward pass right down the middle on the 50-yard line — or whatever football play would be a really obvious one.

From Salon

While the film is an unabashed crowd-pleaser, the subtlety of Clooney's performance could put him in the awards conversation in the coming months, in a year where the best actor race is packed with A-listers.

From BBC

Related Words

• elegance 
• intricacy