subtlety

[ suht-l-tee ]

/ ˈsʌt l ti /

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See synonyms for: subtlety / subtleties on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural sub·tle·ties.

the state or quality of being subtle.

delicacy or nicety of character or meaning.

acuteness or penetration of mind; delicacy of discrimination.

a fine-drawn distinction; refinement of reasoning: the subtleties of logic.

something subtle.

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.

QUIZ

ALL IN FAVO(U)R OF THIS BRITISH VS. AMERICAN ENGLISH QUIZ

There's an ocean of difference between the way people speak English in the US vs. the UK. Are your language skills up to the task of telling the difference? Let's find out!

Question 1 of 7

True or false? British English and American English are only different when it comes to slang words.

true

false

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of subtlety

1300–50; Middle English subtelte, sutilte<Old French sutilte<Latin subtīlitāt- (stem of subtīlitās) fineness, equivalent to subtīli(s) subtile + -tāt--ty²

OTHER WORDS FROM subtlety

hy·per·sub·tle·ty, nounnon·sub·tle·ty, noun, plural non·sub·tle·ties.o·ver·sub·tle·ty, noun, plural o·ver·sub·tle·ties.

Words nearby subtlety

subtilisin, subtilize, subtilty, subtitle, subtle, subtlety, subtly, subtonic, subtopia, subtopic, subtorrid

How to use subtlety in a sentence

Recent breakthroughs in deep learning have made it possible to replicate many of the subtleties of human speech.
AI voice actors sound more human than ever—and they’re ready to hire|Karen Hao|July 9, 2021|MIT Technology Review
This is a plus if you’re looking for subtlety, and an accessory you wear nearly 24 hours a day ought to look subtle.
Fitbit Versa 3 review: A well-rounded smartwatch for fitness|Billy Cadden|June 14, 2021|Popular-Science
One bemoaned the subtlety of the lime — “it’s so plain” — while another found the dearth of faux flavor made it the most bearable.
What’s the best hard seltzer? We tried 18 new flavors to find out.|Emily Heil|May 13, 2021|Washington Post
The third time I just sat back and marveled at the sure hand of the director, the subtlety of Amy Adams, the ambition of the story structure.
The Oscars always get it wrong. Here are the real best pictures of the past 45 years.|Dan Zak, Amy Argetsinger|April 23, 2021|Washington Post

VR is being used in podcast production because it captures “subtleties, gestures and warmth” that are lost in distanced interaction, says Karolina Komarnicka, of The Leadership Network’s The Real Place podcast.
‘An immediate sense of co-presence’: Firms turn to VR as bridge for in-person connections at conferences, events|Jessica Davies|April 5, 2021|Digiday
In his opulent maroon suit, Dickens flaunts his fame and fortune with so little subtlety he makes Kanye West appear modest.
The Gospel According to Thomas Jefferson (And Tolstoy and Dickens)|Samuel Fragoso|October 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Political or not, shown in New York or Budapest, it is a worthy achievement composed with taste and subtlety.
In Hands of Hungarian Artist, Jewish Home Movies of the ’30s a Warning of Coming Holocaust|Daniel Genis|October 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The violence was turned up to 11, but the message could still have been handled with more subtlety.
‘Fury’: A Ludicrous WWII Movie More Violent Than ‘Inglourious Basterds’|Nico Hines|October 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But Nicki doesn't just tell us she has a big, fat, ass—that would lack craft and subtlety.
Nicki Minaj’s ‘Anaconda’ Is Too Much Booty for One Man to Handle|Amy Zimmerman|August 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Without context, subtlety, and commentary, a parody begins to look eerily like the scenario it is attempting to skewer.
Juvenile Misogynist Seth MacFarlane Is Not Funny|Amy Zimmerman|June 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The apparent slightness of these English changes reveals their deliberate subtlety.
Solomon and Solomonic Literature|Moncure Daniel Conway
"Jack wants you to go for a walk," announced Miss Thangue, who saw no occasion for subtlety.
Ancestors|Gertrude Atherton
His quick-wittedness and the subtlety of his character make him full of quaint remarks and funny and unexpected comparisons.
Friend Mac Donald|Max O'Rell
This arrangement was not to Gwynne's taste, but he had developed subtlety in such matters and bided his time.
Ancestors|Gertrude Atherton
Accustomed to women of a more sophisticated class, Jean had at first taken her navet for the height of subtlety.
The Amazing Interlude|Mary Roberts Rinehart

British Dictionary definitions for subtlety

subtlety

/ (ˈsʌtəltɪ) /

noun plural -ties

the state or quality of being subtle; delicacy

a fine distinction or the ability to make such a distinction

something subtle

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

subtlety

Origin of subtlety

OTHER WORDS FROM subtlety

Words nearby subtlety

Words related to subtlety

How to use subtlety in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for subtlety