subtle
[adjective]
Synonyms:
- sophisticated, delicate, refined
- faint, delicate, implied, slight, understated
- crafty, artful, cunning, devious, ingenious, shrewd, sly, wily

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Antonyms: unsubtle
Contrasted words: blunt, dense
Related Words: dexterous, skillful

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

sub‧tle /ˈsʌtl/ adjective (comparative subtler or more subtle, superlative subtlest)
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: soutil, from Latin subtilis 'finely woven, subtle', from tela 'something woven']

1. not easy to notice or understand unless you pay careful attention Antonym : obvious:
The pictures are similar, but there are subtle differences between them.
The warning signs of the disease are so subtle that they are often ignored.
a subtle form of racism
subtle taste/flavour/smell etc
The flavour of the dried berries is more subtle.
The dish had a subtle hint of ginger.

2. behaving in a skilful and clever way, especially using indirect methods or language to hide what you are trying to do:
I think we need a more subtle approach.
a subtle plan
subtle about
She wasn’t very subtle about it. She just said she didn’t love him any more.

3. very clever in noticing and understanding things ⇒ sensitive:
a subtle mind
—subtly adverb:
a subtly different colour

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

subtle
adj.
VERBS be, seem | become
ADV. extraordinarily, extremely, very | infinitely making infinitely subtle distinctions
not exactly, not too He was not exactly subtle about it!
fairly, quite, rather

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲