subtlety

American  

[suht-l-tee] / ˈsʌt l ti /

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.

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subtlety British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• hypersubtlety noun
• nonsubtlety noun
• oversubtlety noun

Etymology

Origin of subtlety

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

Perversely, it’s times like these, when subversion and subtlety are required, that creativity flourishes.

From Salon

But the bigger part only allowed for more subtlety as Liu sought to inhabit someone made to feel small by her circumstances, who still doesn’t shrink from doing right by her child.

From Los Angeles Times

As the years pass, she lets the shadows inside Kayleen emerge with stealthy subtlety.

From The Wall Street Journal

But in his own groups he is the rare drummer whose music draws you in with its subtlety rather than enveloping you with its power.

From The Wall Street Journal

But commercialism has won out over art, which is to say obviousness has run roughshod over subtlety.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• elegance
• intricacy