English Dictionary
Definition of “subtle”
subtle (ˈsʌtəll
)
Definitions
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
Alternative Forms
ˈsubtleness noun ˈsubtly adverb Word Origin
C14: from Old French soutil, from Latin subtīlis finely woven
Synonyms
View thesaurus entry
=
crafty,
cunning,
sly,
designing,
scheming,
intriguing,
shrewd,
ingenious,
astute,
devious,
wily,
artful,
Machiavellian,
Translations
- British English:
subtle
Something subtle is not immediately obvious or noticeable....the slow and subtle changes that take place in all living things.ˈsʌtl ADJECTIVE ...the slow and subtle changes that take place in all living things.
- Spanish:
sutil
adj
- French:
subtil
adj
- German:
fein
adj
- Chinese: 微妙的 adj
- Arabic: دَقِيق adj
- Portuguese: subtil adj
- Russian: едва различимый adj едва различимая
- Croatian: suptilan adj suptilna
- Czech: detailní adj
- Danish: subtil adj
- Dutch: subtiel adj
- Finnish: hienovarainen adj
- Greek: ανεπαίσθητος adj ανεπαίσθητη
- Italian: sottile adj
- Japanese: 微妙な no_posp
- Korean: 미묘한 adj
- Norwegian: subtil adj
- Polish: subtelny adj subtelna
- Brazilian Portuguese: sutil adj
- European Spanish:
sutil
adj
- Swedish: subtil adj subtilt
- Thai: ซึ่งบอกเป็นนัยๆ adj
- Turkish: belli belirsiz adj
- Vietnamese: khó thấy adj
Usage examples
She sat opposite her prey and used every opportunity for subtle eye contact.
Forbes, Bryan, The Endless Game (1986)The UN has been profoundly affected by the Iraq crisis, in obvious and subtle ways.
Globe and Mail (2003)Not for him the subtle evidence of local loyalties or papering over the cracks of national pride.
Glasgow Herald (2001)Air is made up of the finest etheric energy, vibrating at the most subtle level.
Amoda, MOVING INTO ECSTASY: An Urban Mystic's Guide to Movement, Music and Meditation (2001)
