subtle

[ suht-l ]

/ ˈsʌt l /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR subtle ON THESAURUS.COM

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.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR subtle ON THESAURUS.COM

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 subtly

He subtly gestured toward the direction of the camera pointed at their house.

The Life and Hard Times Of The Family A Cuban Defector Left Behind |Brin-Jonathan Butler |December 19, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
If there were ever a Chinese company that could subtly suggest a few changes in Chinese policy, Alibaba would be it.

Alibaba’s Dark Side: Censoring Customers |Brendon Hong |November 18, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
But with the 2016 presidential season on the horizon, the Texas firebrand has subtly changed his tune over the last six months.

Ted Cruz Quits Screwing With the GOP |Patricia Murphy |October 16, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
In an effort to cope with the implications of this question, Americans have subtly but sweepingly shifted their ideals.

How Young People Are Destroying Liberty |James Poulos |October 11, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

Once a day, she says, a shuttle bus took them into town, dropping them not so subtly near the train station.

Italy's Latest Export Is Refugees, and the Rest of Europe Is Not Happy |Barbie Latza Nadeau |August 26, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
That was the reason of the subtly appealing look which had puzzled her from her first meeting with this man!

Lady Cassandra |Mrs George de Horne Vaizey
Beth subtly conveyed the impression that on the contrary she thought it was dreadful.

The Fighting Shepherdess |Caroline Lockhart
Every shift and twist is subtly adapted to his audience of Churchmen, and the gradation of his pleading no less subtly contrived.

An Introduction to the Study of Browning |Arthur Symons
How subtly he proclaimed what she might expect in the future!

The Salamander |Owen Johnson
The Princess had a peculiar pleasure in learning such things and would often subtly misapply them in order to be corrected.

Patsy |S. R. Crockett

British Dictionary definitions for subtly

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 subtly

British Dictionary definitions for subtly

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

Words related to subtly

Example sentences from the Web for subtly

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

adjective

Derived forms of subtle

Word Origin for subtle

British Dictionary definitions for subtly