subtle

[ suht-l ]

/ ˈsʌt l /

adjective, sub·tler, sub·tlest.

thin, tenuous, or rarefied, as a fluid or an odor.

fine or delicate in meaning or intent; difficult to perceive or understand: subtle irony.

delicate or faint and mysterious: a subtle smile.

requiring mental acuteness, penetration, or discernment: a subtle philosophy.

characterized by mental acuteness or penetration: a subtle understanding.

cunning, wily, or crafty: a subtle liar.

insidious in operation: subtle poison.

skillful, clever, or ingenious: a subtle painter.

Origin of subtle

1250–1300; Middle English sotil < Old French < Latin subtīlis subtile ( b of modern spelling < L)

SYNONYMS FOR subtle

6 sly, tricky, foxy, slick.

OTHER WORDS FROM subtle

sub·tle·ness, noun sub·tly, adverb hy·per·sub·tle, adjective hy·per·sub·tle·ness, noun

non·sub·tle, adjective non·sub·tle·ness, noun non·sub·t·ly, adverb o·ver·sub·tle, adjective o·ver·sub·tly, adverb pseu·do·sub·tle, adjective pseu·do·sub·t·ly, adverb un·sub·tle, adjective un·sub·tle·ness, noun un·sub·t·ly, adverb

Words nearby subtle

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

Example sentences from the Web for subtleness

The charm of woman, too, lies partly in her subtleness in matters of love.

A Pair of Blue Eyes |Thomas Hardy
It nettled him to be put on the defensive, his subtleness openly contemned.

Thirty |Howard Vincent O'Brien
He only knew the ethics of the deed was shaded with the subtleness of villainy.

The Blind Spot |Austin Hall
One aspect of the recent stories of diabolism is the subtleness by which the evil is suggested.

The Supernatural in Modern English Fiction |Dorothy Scarborough

He speaks, as well he might, of the inconstancy and subtleness of the people with whom we deal.

The Mystery of Mary Stuart |Andrew Lang

British Dictionary definitions for subtleness

subtle

/ (ˈsʌtəl) /

adjective

not immediately obvious or comprehensible

difficult to detect or analyse, often through being delicate or highly refined a subtle scent

showing or making or capable of showing or making fine distinctions of meaning

marked by or requiring mental acuteness or ingenuity; discriminating

delicate or faint a subtle shade

cunning or wily a subtle rogue

operating or executed in secret a subtle intrigue

Derived forms of subtle

subtleness, noun subtly, adverb

Word Origin for subtle

C14: from Old French soutil, from Latin subtīlis finely woven

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

subtle

adjective, sub·tler, sub·tlest.

Origin of subtle

SYNONYMS FOR subtle

OTHER WORDS FROM subtle

Words nearby subtle

Example sentences from the Web for subtleness

British Dictionary definitions for subtleness

adjective

Derived forms of subtle

Word Origin for subtle

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

subtle

adjective, sub·tler, sub·tlest.

Origin of subtle

SYNONYMS FOR subtle

OTHER WORDS FROM subtle

Words nearby subtle

Example sentences from the Web for subtleness

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for subtleness

adjective

Derived forms of subtle

Word Origin for subtle

British Dictionary definitions for subtleness