subtly
Americanadverb
-
in a way that is so fine or delicate as to be difficult to perceive.
The vegetables tasted subtly of the grill, but each still held its own unique flavor.
-
in a way that shows or requires mental penetration or discernment.
In the press, comment and analysis must be subtly distinguished from news.
-
in a way that shows highly refined skill; cleverly or ingeniously.
He has developed his own style of playing the whistle and subtly incorporates features that evoke other traditional instruments.
-
in a wily or cunning way; craftily.
Under the guise of journalistic objectivity, news programs subtly play on our emotions—chiefly on our fears.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of subtly
Explanation
The adverb subtly describes something that's done in a delicate or understated way. You could subtly suggest to your best friend that a breath mint might taste good, rather than telling her straight out that she's got terrible breath. When you do something subtly, you do it quietly and indirectly — like subtly criticizing your mom's choice of beachwear. If you smile subtly, it's a small, mysterious, Mona Lisa-type smile rather than a wide, open one. There are two tricks to the word subtly: first, when you add the ly to the word subtle, the e gets dropped. Second, don't confuse subtly with subtlety, a noun meaning "the state of being subtle."
Vocabulary lists containing subtly
To All the Boys I've Loved Before
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I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter
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Five Feet Apart
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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.
The area of high pressure will subtly shift position over the next few days and this will allow some of this hot air to come into the south-east of the UK.
From BBC ● Jun. 18, 2026
Until recently, its crowning achievements were “shrinkflation,” where companies subtly reduce product sizes to raise unit prices, and “garbatrage,” when a takeover announcement sends shares of low-quality companies in the same industry higher.
From Barron's ● Jun. 12, 2026
She and two others said at the time that the Fed should ditch the language in its official statement that subtly suggested a rate cut was still more probable than a rate increase.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 6, 2026
The marvelous, real-life expanse of the Backrooms set allows Parsons to track his characters through the ceaseless spaces, their architecture subtly growing stranger the further they get.
From Salon ● May 30, 2026
Cold air rippled across Jason’s face as the Mist subtly altered his appearance, showing the suitors what they expected to see.
From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan
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.
