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 unsubtle

That word “denialism” is particularly profane, with its unsubtle invocation of the Holocaust.

Why It Was Right to Question Rolling Stone’s U-VA Rape Story |Michael Moynihan |December 5, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Allie calls it “Fat Boy,” an unsubtle portmanteau of the nicknames—“Fat Man” and “Little Boy”—given the bombs dropped over Japan.

American Dreams: ‘The Mosquito Coast’ by Paul Theroux |Nathaniel Rich |September 20, 2012 |DAILY BEAST
Most likely this is an unsubtle nod to critics that Bush knew Cheney might have been a problem.

George Bush's Book Will Offend the Right |Matt Latimer |November 10, 2010 |DAILY BEAST
She was amazing in a sort of unsubtle way; crudely amazing—I thought.

Chance |Joseph Conrad

In his unsubtle makeup the measure of his devotion was as great as the measure of his unspoiled manhood.

Little Lost Sister |Virginia Brooks
The others read, talked, smoked, bandied over my head some unsubtle chaff.

'Twixt Land & Sea |Joseph Conrad
Mrs. Ginsburg rocked and fanned rhythmically; her unsubtle lips curled upward with the subtle smile of a zingaro.

Just Around the Corner |Fannie Hurst
Inspector McWalsh poured his unsubtle scorn on such writings for ten full minutes.

Anthony Trent, Master Criminal |Wyndham Martyn

British Dictionary definitions for unsubtle (1 of 2)

unsubtle

/ (ʌnˈsʌtəl) /

adjective

not subtle; obvious or blatant

British Dictionary definitions for unsubtle (2 of 2)

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 unsubtle

British Dictionary definitions for unsubtle (1 of 2)

adjective

British Dictionary definitions for unsubtle (2 of 2)

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 unsubtle

Example sentences from the Web for unsubtle

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for unsubtle (1 of 2)

adjective

British Dictionary definitions for unsubtle (2 of 2)

adjective

Derived forms of subtle

Word Origin for subtle

British Dictionary definitions for unsubtle (1 of 2)